Food Sovereignty, Agroecology and Biocultural Diversity (Routledge Studies in Food, Society and the Environment)

Contestations over knowledge and who controls its production are a key focus of social movements and other actors that promote food sovereignty, agroecology and biocultural diversity. This book critically examines the kinds of knowledge and ways of knowing needed for food sovereignty, agroecology and biocultural diversity.

Food sovereignty is understood here as a transformative process that seeks to recreate the democratic realm and regenerate a diversity of autonomous food systems based on agroecology, biocultural diversity, equity, social justice and ecological sustainability. It is shown that alternatives to the current model of development require radically different knowledges and epistemologies from that on offer today in mainstream institutions (including universities, policy think tanks and donor organisations). To achieve appropriate food sovereignty, agroecology and biocultural diversity there is a need to transform and construct knowledge for diversity, decentralisation, dynamic adaptation, and democracy.

The authors critically explore the innovations and reforms in organisations, research, technological paradigms, and professional practice that could help transform and construct knowledge. The book thus contributes to the democratisation of knowledge and power in the domain of food, environment and society."