Scaling out agroecology from the school garden: the importance of culture, food, and place

    Collection:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
    Contributers:
    Ferguson, Bruce G. (author), Morales, Helda (author), Chung, Kimberly (author), Nigh, Ron (author), and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social Michigan State University
    Format:
    Online journal article
    Publication Date:
    2019-03-26
    URL:
    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21683565.2019.1591565
    Published:
    Mexico: Taylor & Francis
    Location:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 109 Document Number: D10984
    Journal Title:
    Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
    Journal Title Details:
    43(7) : 724-743
    Subject Term:
    case studies, data analysis, data collection, educational needs, educators, food, food policy, food security, markets, policies, schools, culture, agroecology, gardens, Mexico (Latin America; Central America), action research, Chiapas, and eating habits
    Notes:
    21 pages, 21 pages, We explore potential and limitations for agroecological scaling through formal education, using the LabVida school gardens program in Chiapas, Mexico as a case study. Through LabVida training, educators gained an appreciation of agroecology and learned to apply agroecological practices, although their understanding of agroecological principles and scientific process remained limited. The greatest program impact was on educators’ eating habits, and their perception of the value of local knowledge and its relevance to school work. The case study demonstrates the potential of garden and food-system work to leverage institutional resources in ways that can improve educational outcomes, including agroecological literacy. Increased awareness of agroecology and the value of local knowledge may intersect with other drivers of scaling, including markets, organizational fabric, and policy.

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