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The human being at the heart of agroecological transitions: insights from cognitive mapping of actors’ vision of change in Roquefort area

Author

Listed:
  • Gwen Christiansen

    (AGIR, Univ Toulouse, INRAE)

  • Jean Simonneaux

    (EFTS, Univ Toulouse, ENSFEA)

  • Laurent Hazard

    (AGIR, Univ Toulouse, INRAE)

Abstract

Agroecological transitions aim at developing sustainable farming and food systems, adapted to local contexts. Such transitions require the engagement of local actors and the consideration of their knowledge and reasoning as a whole, which encompasses different natures of knowledge (empirical, scientific, local, generic), related to different dimensions (economic, environmental, technical, social, political), as well as their values and perceived uncertainties. While these transitions are often problematized in relation to technical issues, this article's objective is to start from the way the local actors consider these transitions in order to see what issues are actually involved. In this study, we analyzed the reasoning of diverse farming actors, including farmers and farm advisors. We conducted 30 cognitive mapping interviews, during which the local actors drew cognitive maps to explicit their reasoning concerning their agroecological transition with an open approach. Their reasoning revealed an emphasis on the human & social dimension of the process of agroecological transitions: (i) human and social considerations come first in the transition process, while technical solutions are viewed as secondary, (ii) use and development of human capacities, social interactions and human well-being are crucial to the conduct of agroecological transitions, (iii) human-scale farming appears as a condition for the use of human capacities, human well-being and rural development, (iv) agroecological transitions imply farming advisory transitions, and (v) rural development appears as a condition for agroecological transitions, implying transitions in society as a whole.

Suggested Citation

  • Gwen Christiansen & Jean Simonneaux & Laurent Hazard, 2023. "The human being at the heart of agroecological transitions: insights from cognitive mapping of actors’ vision of change in Roquefort area," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(4), pages 1675-1696, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:40:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s10460-023-10430-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-023-10430-w
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