Agroecology in the time of the Covid-19 | Analysis

Introduction

Today the threat of the new virus has spread across the globe, affecting all nations and the most unbalanced social groups. It is a disease that puts people of all ages and social races at risk. Creed or skin color, it moves from the most privileged places to the most modest ones; it lodges the same in those who are at the margin of the letters, as in those who distinguish themselves by their knowledge, it infects in an indistinct way those who cultivate the highest values, as well as those who show their detachment to them.

Faced with such a scenario, universities are now mobilized and in a state of alert, all this unwanted happening has been a historical fact that has generated a vigorous synergy between institutions of all geographies and all political identities, so it is impossible not to assume the disruption of this impact on our educational work, as far as I am concerned to translate to you my experiences based on the influence of covid-19 in my university activities.

This is the case of the university where I work, the Universidad Experimental Sur del Lago Jesús María Semprum (UNESUR), whose responsibilities include the expansion of knowledge, the extension and participation of all of us as teachers to the communities, and the development of the academy for the generation of agricultural and livestock production throughout the southern axis of Lake Maracaibo. However, it cannot be denied that the Covid-19 is not only a serious local, regional and national problem, but has become a vital issue for all of humanity.

The university through all its academic programs and the direction of technology as well as many educational institutions in the country are participating in this great effort to provide education from our homes, so we have given ourselves the task of reflecting on various issues from an environment that involves various disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, especially agro-ecology and the urgent need to ensure food security in the southwest of Venezuela.
As never before, the pandemic caused by the coronavirus reveals the systemic essence of our world: human, animal, plant and ecological health, which are closely linked. Without a doubt, the COVID-19 calls on all of humanity to reflect on and make corrections to our capitalist and highly consumerist mode of development, so that in one way or another the current way in which we relate to nature in order to obtain its resources must change to a clearly sustainable form.

The times demand a comprehensive response to the current crisis, addressing the root causes behind the already apparent socio-ecological fragility and vulnerability of our world.

Agroecology represents an inspiring example of a powerful systemic approach that, at this time of the coronavirus pandemic, helps to explore the links between agriculture and health, demonstrating that the way agriculture is practiced can be conducive to well-being or, conversely, if it is practiced from the ground up as industrial agriculture is, which can generate great health risks and damage.

If a healthy and balanced diet is maintained by consuming nutrients of plant or animal origin, this would help us to strengthen our immune system by improving our ability to deal with certain threats to any virus, including contagious viruses such as COVID-19.

We have been working hard to restore the skills of producers in their production, promoting agro-ecological principles and practices. The results have been increased traditional agricultural yields and improved agrobiodiversity, with associated positive effects, especially on food security and environmental integrity.

There is no doubt that the best agricultural system that will be able to meet future challenges is one that is based on agro-ecological principles, exhibiting high levels of diversity and resilience while providing reasonable yields, functions and ecosystem services.

Agroecology proposes to restore the landscapes surrounding farms, which enriches the ecological matrix and its functions such as natural pest control, water and soil conservation, climate regulation, biological regulation, among many others. With this, landscape restoration through agroecology also creates "ecological firebreaks" that can help prevent the "escape" of pathogens from their habitats.

There is an urgent need to promote new local food systems to ensure the production of abundant, healthy and affordable food for a growing human population.

To harness this potential, successful local agro-ecological initiatives must be widely disseminated through educational strategies in the creation of agro-ecological lighthouses, the revival of traditional systems and the reconfiguration of entire territories under agro-ecological management.

To improve the economic viability of such efforts, equitable local and regional market opportunities governed by the principles of the solidarity economy must also be developed. Here, the role of consumers is key if they understand that eating is an ecological and political act, so when they support local farmers, rather than a corporate food chain, they create sustainability and socio-ecological resilience.

Transitioning agriculture through government policy will take time, but each of us can accelerate the process by making daily choices to help small farmers, the planet, and ultimately our own health.

The transition to agroecology for a more socially just, economically viable, environmentally sound and healthy agriculture will be the result of the confluence of rural and urban social movements working together for the radical transformation of the collapsing global food system.

It is very important that we all become aware of our ecosystems that develop sustainably without the economy having a negative impact on it, since economies do not support our ecosystems.

From another point of view, COVID-19 reminds us that its treatment adulterates our nature in a negative way.
Let us hope that this current crisis caused by COVID-19 will help enlighten humanity to lay the foundation for a new world and more respectful ways of interacting with nature.