New Actors in the Ecological Agriculture Movement

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to show how the ecological subfield took shape in the Brazilian agriculture and how it represents a way of confronting a hegemonic agricultural and food order that expanded through scientific and technological development following the political and economic interests of certain actors. A socially non inclusive and environmentally unsustainable agriculture was so forged. The concept of “field” within the contemporary sociological theory is used in this analysis as a confrontation between political actors on behalf of the ecological and agroindustrial models, respectively. We also highlight how the landless agricultural workers movement (Movimento dos trabalhadores Sem-Terra, MST) has been attracted to the ecological subfield, given that the organization is a political actor. Finally, we stress that ecological agriculture has been an important strategy to fostering food sovereignty and security.