Production systems for ecological basis - the quest for a sustainable rural development

Abstract

The problems resulting from the model agrochemical production began in the late nineteenth century, led to the creation of several movements against the devastation of natural resources focused on the search for alternative models of sustainable agricultural production, among them biodynamic agriculture, organic farming, natural, perm culture and more recently the organic-mineral or SAT (production without the use of pesticides). Such alternative models of production, although they have various practices and guiding principles, seek the ideal of sustainability of agro ecosystems. The scientific basis for these styles of agriculture with more sustainable approach is given by agro ecology, the science that emerges in 1970, providing methodological principles, theory and practice can enable the realization of sustainable agriculture. However, being a relatively new science, Agro ecology is viewed as synonymous with organic farming, natural farming and / or farming. This and many other conceptual errors regarding the styles of alternative agriculture and agro ecology are being committed by farmers, students, technicians, professors and researchers. Considering the existence of these different lines of basic ecological agriculture, based on the principles of theoretical and methodological Agro ecology, this study aims to contextualize the main problems caused by conventional agriculture, as well as the emergence of alternative models of production, principles and assumptions of each style of sustainable agriculture. Besides providing a better understanding of the conceptual terms related to Agro ecology, agro ecological transition styles, alternative agriculture and sustainability of agro ecosystems.