Discussing Open Science and Agroecology with Miguel Ángel Núñez
Living in the era of the Anthropocene, we're in the thick of a civilizational crisis. To build a better future, we need a fresh societal order. Corporate food production is one of modernity's defining aspects, and I've written extensively about the konuco as an alternative.
In my book, The Science of the Konuco and Its Integral Vision, I delve into the science, open-source farming, and of course, the konuco. Here in Venezuela, our unique circumstances - shaped by the US blockade - call into question corporate farming, whereas there have been significant strides in traditional crop production.
Venezuela's signature farming method, the konuco, is a non-exploitative, high-yield, biodiverse system that protects our ecosystem. Contrary to the prevailing notion that we're food-dependent, campesino agriculture has long been an integral part of our lives, providing most of our sustenance. Campesinos, with government support, have managed to maintain and even increase food production amidst a multifaceted crisis - including civilizational emergency, economic embargo, and a pandemic.
In Venezuela, the konuco stands tall, providing the backbone for primary food production. But we're yet to give it official recognition.
With decades of misconceptions about Venezuela being an oil-dependent, "port-based" economy, I argue that 92% of the food we consume is domestically produced. And it's not just industrial food, but fruits, vegetables, and other crops coming from our diverse terrains - each hosting their own kind of konuco.
The konuco is crucial because it's eco-sustainable, boosting food production while preserving biodiversity. With approximately 1.5 billion campesinos around the world providing 75% of primary food production, it's essential to consider trends emerging in campesino economies. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have long been part of industrial farming, but the decline in their availability and the rise of agroecological practices are promising developments not just for Venezuela, but for Latin America as a whole.
While primary food production includes both small-scale campesino production and that of agro-industries, it's the former that has arguably experienced less dependence on toxic inputs. And as the Ukraine war hit conventional fertilizer production, we've seen a shift towards agroecological farming practices worldwide.
The konuco, originating from indigenous practices, is on the forefront of this new agricultural paradigm. With up to 42 crops on a 4000-square-meter plot, the konuco embodies the six principles of agroecology, including agrobiodiversity, complementarity, and recycling. These principles ensure both productive soils and healthy ecosystems in the face of civilizational emergencies, economic embargoes, resource scarcity, and pandemics.
As we strive to forge a new societal order, it's crucial to recognize the value of campesino practices - like the konuco - and transition towards sustainable, eco-conscious agriculture. In the Anthropocene, we need a shift towards agroecology that not only respects cultural heritage but also combats environmental degradation and preserves our shared home.
- In my book, "The Science of the Konuco and Its Integral Vision," I delve into the science, open-source farming, and the konuco, a non-exploitative, high-yield, biodiverse system originating from indigenous practices.
- With up to 42 crops on a 4000-square-meter plot, the konuco embodies the six principles of agroecology, promoting agrobiodiversity, complementarity, and recycling, thus ensuring productive soils and healthy ecosystems.
- The konuco, which is crucial in the Anthropocene, not only boosts food production, but also preserves biodiversity, making it a promising development for managing civilizational emergencies, economic embargoes, resource scarcity, and pandemics.
- Campesinos, with government support, have played a significant role in primary food production in Venezuela, providing most of the sustenance for the populace, despite the ongoing multifaceted crisis.
- As we move forward towards a new societal order in the Anthropocene, it's essential to consider trends emerging in agroecological practices and the vital role that campesino economies, including the konuco, can play in sustainable, eco-conscious agriculture, combating environmental degradation, and preserving our shared home.
