Participatory Action Research in Agroecology: Building Local Organic Food Networks in Spain
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems Volume 37, Issue 1, 2013
Gloria I. Guzmán, Daniel López, Lara Román, Antonio M. Alonso, 2013
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Summary :
The serious problems of agrarian unsustainability cannot be solved through technological changes that lessen environmental impacts. Although technological change is important, it is also necessary to change the agri-food system as a whole. Participatory action research (PAR) is a methodological approach to collaborate with local communities. It enables us to advance in the restructuring of physical flows, economies, and information that support local farming, as a means to achieve greater autonomy and self-management. This article presents several case studies in Spain in which PAR has been applied to build local organic food networks. These are characterized by a more sustainable use of local resources and the development of short food supply chains.