Entre indicadores e novidades: a sustentabilidade dos agroecossistemas em transição agroecológica no território central do RS

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze how the novelty production approach by farming families of central territory of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), influences on the sustainability of agroecosystems in agroecological transition. In this regard, eight agroecosystems were surveyed in the counties of Santa Maria, São João do Polêsine, Agudo, Júlio de Castilhos, Santiago and Dona Francisca. The study was performed with qualitative and quantitative methods, and in order to verify the sustainability of the agroecosystems, “Framework for the Assessment of National Resource Management Systems Incorporating Sustainability Indicators" - MESMIS was used, enabling to develop indicators through a participatory methodology. Thus, 12 sustainability indicators were elaborated, which are: Indicator of Sustainability, Agroecological Technical Assistance; Diversification of Marketing Channels; Receptivity for Agroecological Knowledge; Hiring of External Labor; Family Succession; Information on Agroecology; Level of Agroecological Transition; Diversification of Productive Activities; Empirical Experiences; Water quality; Quality of life; and Soil Quality. After the indicators were measured, it could be verified that the agroecosystems have good levels of sustainability, wherein the indicators Empirical Experiences and the Indicator of Sustainability Information on Agroecology revealed the best resusts, whereas the Indicator of Sustainability Agroecological Technical Assistance and the Indicator of Sustainability were the most worrisome ones. Further, the occurrence of novelty in each agroecosystem was verified, analyzing their influence on each indicator, which evidenced its greater occurrence in the indicators of Sustainability Empirical Experiences and Levels of sustainability, and lower occurrence on the ones with low levels of sustainability. Furthermore, the farming families do not consider the novelty they develop as a differential, which is already incorporated into their daily lives. As the most part of them emerged during challenging periods, in order to fulfill the role of technologies or strategies that were no longer viable, they are oftenly seen as a "breakthrough", without acquiring a real importance for the maintenance of agroecosystems. Finally, it was evident that these noveltys influence on the sustainability of agroecosystems, being essential in the process of agroecological transition.