Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Wisconsin sustainable agriculture networks
California agroecological partnerships
Focus
Local knowledge about farming systems, sometimes
Agroecological knowledge; commodity specific
organic
Origins
Draw on tradition of agricultural populism, and
Rooted in alternative pest management strategies
increasing social power of farmers, fostering rural
(biocontrol and IPM) to develop alternative agriculture
community
Size, scale
Specific county, or multi-county focus; emphasis on
May be one county, regional, or statewide
local knowledge
Purpose
Help farmers develop the skills to farm the way they
Fostering better scientific land managers; strong focus
want to, including the development of new markets
on organizing applied science work
Funding
Minimal, little needed for grassroots activities
Needed for professional science staff and activities
Role of pollution
Environmental problems are one motivating factor
Environmental regulatory problems are key to
understanding them, largely due to toxicity of OPs
Staff
Volunteers, often farmers
Paid, professional, often scientists
Relationship with
Defending their own, grassroots autonomy; scientists
Strong focus on enrolling scientists and extensionists
science institutions
contribute on farmers' terms
in the agro-environmental problem solving
Relationship with
Grassroots and local leadership; resisting the power
Strong ties to, and in many cases, sponsorship by state
grower
of national commodity organizations
or national commodity-specific marketing orders
organization
Role of
Very little if any
A major player behind the scenes; have provided
environmental
millions of dollars to achieve agency goals with less
regulatory agencies
controversy
Connected to
Many working to find direct marketing alternatives
Conventionally, but emerging interest in specialized
markets
to the mass commodity markets
labels and eco-labels
State elected
Somewhat responsive to the expressed needs of these
Little interest on the part of a legislature dominated
officials
rural networks
by urban interests
