How much do extension agents and advisors value agroecology in different countries? Contributions to the understanding of their potential role in scaling up agroecology

LANDINI, FERNANDO; GALLARDO LOPEZ, FELIPE; RAMIREZ VALVERDE, GUSTAVO; AGUILAR CALEGARE, MARCELO; KELLEN ONOFRE DOS SANTOS, DAYANA

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

Taylor & Francis

Año: 2021 vol. 45 p. 1554 - 1578

2168-3565

In this study, we analyze the production orientation (agroecological or conventional) of extension workers from nine countries in three continents, based on a questionnaire. We acknowledge the potential of extension workers as multipliers of an agroecological approach and as a way of scaling up agroecology. Results show that almost half of the participants support an agroecological approach, and with a higher frequency than the institutions they work for. Variables such as country (with their different historical contexts), objectives of extension practice, gender, age and years of experience influence the production approach of extension workers.