Grassroots agroecology advocates challenge funding objectives focused on U.S. Department of Agriculture

Abstract

First paragraphs:

In the spring of 2023, members of the organiza­tions in La Via Campesina’s North America region who participate in the Seeds, Agroecology, and Biodiversity Collective became aware of plans for a summit on agroecology to take place in Missouri in May 2023. At the time, the Summit website stated that “The primary goal of the meeting is to elevate agroecology in the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) portfolio and ulti­mately increase the quality and quantity of public funding available for agroecology research.” Although this goal was later edited, the U.S. Agroecology Summit 2023 was partially funded by USDA NIFA.

As members of the global peasant movement La Via Campesina, and as supporters, promoters, and practitioners of the principles of agroecology, we recognize the dangers of involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in our growing but fragmented movement, especially through funds allocated by the USDA for research into agroecology.

Here in the United States, it is our responsibil­ity to ourselves and to peasants around the world to insist that any research, promotion, or discus­sion of agroecology be grounded in food sover­eignty, feminism, Indigenous knowledges, and bio­diversity, and to defend its fierce demand to end imperialism, capitalism, patriarchy, neoliberal market-based economies, free trade, false climate solutions, and corporate control of globalized food systems and resources. . . .