Agricultural production systems developed by Indigenous peoples in the Andes respond to mountain ecosystems characterised by high climatic, edaphic, biological and cultural diversity. This study analyses the agronomic and sociocultural practices of the Andean chakra in communities of the Ecuadorian highlands that produce food under the paradigm of “Sumak Kawsay” and the symbolism of the “Chakana”. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach across three phases: territorial characterisation through GIS georeferencing, fieldwork comprising 24 surveys, 16 semi-structured interviews and 3 focus groups in six provinces of the north-central highlands, and data analysis using NVivo 14 and SPSS 30. The results show that the “chakra” constitutes a family-based agricultural and livestock system underpinned by resilient ancestral knowledge and technologies, averaging 25 cultivated species per productive unit. Among the main practices identified are crop association, conservation of native seeds, organic soil management, efficient water use and the application of phytomedicine. These practices strengthen biodiversity and reciprocity between society and nature through the communal work known as the “minka”. Likewise, the great majority of the “chakras” studied are managed mainly by women, who ensure food sovereignty, the transmission of knowledge and the conservation of agrobiodiversity. It is concluded that the Andean “chakra” is a current and adaptive strategy of sustainable agriculture, whose preservation requires intercultural public policies, recognition of women’s work, and longitudinal and comparative lines of research across the Andes.
The intensification of environmental degradation has raised systemic concerns in contemporary society regarding sustainability, considering both ecological and social dimensions. This study aimed to identify the different perceptions and practices of conscious consumption and circular economy among high school students, considering financial comfort and institutional context (public and private schools). The methodology consisted of a survey with 238 questionnaires analysed using analysis of variance (Anova) and goodness-of-fit tests. The results reveal that perceptions of circularity and sustainable practices are not uniform and are linked to students' material security. Students from private schools demonstrate greater openness to collaborative consumption, while students from public schools show a greater perception of risk (hygiene and damage) in relation to reuse. The data support educational managers in developing differentiated environmental education strategies that consider the subjective barriers of each social stratum.
This article investigates how science and scientific and technical brokers shaped the formation of Brazil’s climate agenda between 1999 and 2009. Drawing on Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework, it analyses how science was mobilised across the problem, policy, and politics streams. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach based on the coding of minutes and reports from the Interministerial Commission on Global Climate Change (CIMGC), within the executive branch, and the Joint Committee on Climate Change (CMMC), within the legislature. Findings show that the CIMGC operated in a fragmented manner, centred on executive-branch specialists, with predominantly conceptual and symbolic uses of science and moderate scientific influence. By contrast, the CMMC functioned as a more pluralistic arena, mobilising mixed uses of science and strengthening its influence by linking technical diagnoses to politically recognised problems and viable policy alternatives. Institutional arrangements shaped both the legitimacy of science and its circulation across decision streams.
The composition and functioning of Water Resources State Councils (CRHED) should reflect the decentralised and participatory aspects of the Brazilian national water resources policy. The absence of a national database on the CRHED, however, hinders social scrutiny and consideration of the current characteristics of the Brazilian Water Resources Management System - SINGREH. This study examined stakeholder participation in 27 CRHEDs, identifying the prevalence of the public sector (44%) over water resource users (21%) and civil society organisations (26%). It also examined gender information, the number of meetings, and the approval of deliberations throughout 2024, pointing to an underrepresentation of women (28%) and an uneven level of functioning among federal states. The importance of producing data on a regular basis is highlighted, allowing the monitoring of the CRHED in relation to their effectiveness and adherence to the principles and foundations of water policy in Brazil.
The expansion of irrigation projects in the Brazilian semi-arid region, supported by water abstraction from the São Francisco River, has led to initiatives such as the Jacaré Curituba Settlement Project (PAJC) in Sergipe. Established on soils vulnerable to salinisation and sodification and developed without adequate technical support, the PAJC encountered significant challenges that compromised agricultural productivity. Although the signs of salinisation identified in 2014 had largely been mitigated by 2022, areas exhibiting salt and sodium imbalances remain. The most recent survey also revealed substantial changes in the concentration of soil nutrients, particularly available phosphorus, with increases of up to 587%, thereby highlighting persistent nutritional imbalances. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) was classified as moderate at several sampling locations. Consequently, there is an urgent need for public policies and technical assistance tailored to local conditions to ensure the long-term sustainability of agricultural production in irrigated areas of the Brazilian semi-arid region.
