After years of various proposed 'solutions' for agriculture in Africa, agroecology is emerging as the next best thing. While Agroecology began as an international movement countering industrial...Show moreAfter years of various proposed 'solutions' for agriculture in Africa, agroecology is emerging as the next best thing. While Agroecology began as an international movement countering industrial agriculture, the term is increasingly being used by diverse actors. This thesis critically examines the increased popularity of agroecology in Senegal, which has been proclaimed the leader of agroecological transition in West Africa since 2015 by the FAO. This research found that while the NGOs stay true to the ‘transformative’ interpretation of agroecology, they tend to create indispensable positions for themselves by becoming the ‘middlemen’ between international donors and farmers. The NGOs’ upward accountability and focus on small projects can unintendedly limit the autonomy of the farmer and the potential of agroecology as a countermovement. In addition, the government has co-opted agroecology by publicly claiming to support agroecology, while its actual policies are focused on monocultures, large agribusinesses and productivity.Show less
This paper seeks to identify and expand the discussion on the implementation of fair trade and food sovereignty strategies within the context of the Nicaraguan coffee industry. These strategies...Show moreThis paper seeks to identify and expand the discussion on the implementation of fair trade and food sovereignty strategies within the context of the Nicaraguan coffee industry. These strategies have been proposed within the academic debate as complementary, therefore, this paper explores in how far this proposal has been considered in terms of both historically contextual challenges, as well as theoretical challenges presented by each strategy. The theoretical framework of food regimes, and of the corporate food regime as an extension, is utilised in order to present the various actors and ideological backgrounds relevant to this discussion. Additionally, this paper outlines the global and national contexts of coffee production in order to place any findings in its appropriate context. Lastly, the theoretical issues found through the aforementioned discussion is explored within the case study of the ‘Food and Nutrition Sovereignty and Security Law’ or law 693. This paper proposes that future expansion on this topic consider more closely the following dimensions of the debate: historical legacies of revolution; universalist approaches within the two strategies; the absence of food sovereignty institutionalisation within the academic debate; and the failure to seriously accept the trend of corporatisation of fair trade.Show less
