The history of agroecology in Venezuela: a complex and multifocal process

The evolution of agroecological wisdom in Venezuela is established in three historical periods. The appearance of oil in the country at the beginning of the twentieth century, followed by the development of the agro-industrial model, produced drastic economic and cultural changes. However, environmental movements, academics, and peasant groups promoted sustainable agriculture, resulting in a multifocal origin for agroecology. Emerging legal frameworks later favored the institutionalization of agroecology. Currently, agroecology has both academic and institutional structures and is widely promoted by urban and rural movements. Nevertheless, tensions with the industrial agriculture paradigm are notorious in the public policies of national food and agricultural programs, representing a real challenge for those fighting to achieve sustainable agriculture.