Whose Knowledge, Whose Development? Use and Role of Local and External Knowledge in Agroforestry Projects in Bolivia.

Agroforestry often relies on local knowledge, which is gaining recognition in development projects. However, how local knowledge can articulate with external and scientific knowledge is little known. Our study explored the use and integration of local and external knowledge in agroforestry projects in Bolivia. In 42 field visits and 62 interviews with agroforestry farmers, civil society representatives, and policymakers, we found a diverse knowledge base. We examined how local and external knowledge contribute to livelihood assets and tree and crop diversity. Projects based predominantly on external knowledge tended to promote a single combination of tree and crop species and targeted mainly financial capital, whereas projects with a local or mixed knowledge base tended to focus on food security and increased natural capital (e.g., soil restoration) and used a higher diversity of trees and crops than those with an external knowledge base. The integration of different forms of knowledge can enable farmers to better cope with new challenges emerging as a result of climate change, fluctuating market prices for cash crops, and surrounding destructive land use strategies such as uncontrolled fires and aerial fumigation with herbicides. However, many projects still tended to prioritize external knowledge and undervalue local knowledge-a tendency that has long been institutionalized in the formal educational system and in extension services. More dialogue is needed between different forms of knowledge, which can be promoted by strengthening local organizations and their networks, reforming agricultural educational institutions, and working in close interaction with policymakers.

Dimensiones éticas de la crítica agroecológica a la biotecnología agrícola / Ethical dimensions of agroecology criticism to the agrobiotechnology / Dimensões éticas da crítica agro ecológica à biotecnologia agrícola

El objetivo del presente trabajo es cuestionar las falsas promesas hechas por la industria de la ingeniería genética agrícola, al prometer que los cultivos producidos mediante esta tecnología generarían una agricultura menos dependendiente en insumos químicos, aumentarían la productividad y ayudarían a reducir los problemas ambientales. Este artículo también analiza las críticas ambientalistas a la biotecnología, expresadas en la preocupación por sus efectos sobre las condiciones sociales y económicas, y los valores culturales, religiosos y morales de las diferentes culturas, que han sido ignorados reiteradamente en el desarrollo tecnológico de los OvGM. El autor concluye afirmando que ha llegado el momento de enfrentar socialmente el reto y la realidad de la ingeniería genética. Las compañías de biotecnología deben sentir el impacto de los movimientos ambientalistas, laborales y campesinos, de modo que reorienten su trabajo para el beneficio de toda la sociedad y de la naturaleza.

The goal of this report is to put into question the false promises that agroindustry has made about genetic engineering in agriculture. They have promised that the transgenic crops should generate agriculture less dependent of chemical supplies, it should increase the productivity and it would help to reduce the environmental problems. On the other hand, this paper analyzes the environmentalist criticism to the biotechnology, specially the deep worry about the social, economic moral, religious, and cultural effects or values that have been ignored in the biotechnological development of the agrobiotechnology. The author concludes starting that it has arrived the social moment to challenge the reality of genetic engineering. The biotechnology companies must feel the impact of environmentalist, labor and rural movements, so that they may reorient their work for the benefit of society and nature.

O objetivo do presente trabalho é questionar as falsas promessas feitos pela indústria da engenharia genética agrícola, ao prometer que os cultivos produzidos mediante esta tecnologia gerariam uma agricultura menos dependente de insumos químicos, aumentariam a produtividade e ajudariam a reduzir os problemas ambientais. Este artigo também analisa as críticas ambientalistas à biotecnologia, expressas na preocupação por seus efeitos sobre as condições sociais e econômicas, e os valores culturais, religiosos e morais das diferentes culturas, que foram ignorados sistematicamente no desenvolvimento tecnológico dos OGMs. O autor conclui afirmando que chegou o momento de enfrentar socialmente o desafio e a realidade da engenharia genética. As empresas de biotecnologia devem sentir o impacto dos movimentos ambientalistas, laborais e rurais, de modo que reorietem seu trabalho para o benefício de toda a sociedade e da natureza.