A Pathway to a Sustainable Agriculture. Case Study of Entre Ríos, Argentina

VALENTINUZ, OSCAR; SIEDE, MARIO ALE; SEILER, CRISTHIAN RUBÉN; CAVIGLIA, OCTAVIO; TRUFER, ISABEL; MAÍN, CARLOS; MANCUSO, WALTER; BRASSESCO, RAÚL

Hangzhou (China) - Virtual

Simposio; Symposium on the Futures of Sustainability and Institutions Addressing Sustainability; 2021

Hangzhou International Academy, Futures Journal and Webster University

Agriculture based on intensified production and land concentration is rather far from doing contributions to sustainable development. This business as usual scenario (BAU) shows an acute contrast with the aspirations of politicians, civil organizations and academy. This work describes a prospective study carried out in a province of Argentina (Entre Ríos) with focus on sustainable rural development in year 2030. The methodological approach has two main pillars i) stakeholders participation and ii) building a shared vision of the future (Scenario 2030). Representatives of government, civil organizations, commercial chambers, and academy were encouraged to buy in several participatory stages of the study. It was possible to identify twenty relevant topics described in terms of conceptualization, indicators, change dynamics, and future hypotheses. Those topics allowed to progress in the precise characterization of the BAU Scenario and in a shared building of desirable Scenario 2030. A backcasting approach was utilized to discover and explore solutions through which the desirable future can be reached. In practical terms, an action plan is availablefor local government taking the lead for sustainable rural development.