The Agroecological Farmer’s Pathways from Agriculture to Nutrition: A Practice-Based Case from Ecuador’s Highlands

Abstract

Agroecology is increasingly recognized as a sustainable production strategy that is appropriate for the rural poor. Meanwhile, agricultural initiatives have received much attention for their role in improving farmer nutrition, and three key pathways between agriculture and nutrition include consumption of own production, income and women's empowerment. In this study based in Ecuador's Imbabura province, we used qualitative methods to explore the practices of agroecological farmers with respect to these three key pathways. Results demonstrate the heterogeneity of lived experiences through which agroecology increases agricultural diversity and builds social and human capital to improve nutrition. We further identify barter as an under-explored means to nutrition outcomes, and we discuss the role of the complex rationales that mediate farmers' performance on agriculture-for-nutrition pathways. Finally, our results illustrate agroecology's potential to spread nutrition-promoting practices through endogenous farmers' networks.

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