Quando um monte de gente interessada em cultivo orgânico se une: educabilidades nos discursos de produtores/as e consumidores/as

Abstract

The research is motivated by the connection between Critical Environmental Education and Agroecology, facilitated through agroecological fairs. However, it identifies a relevant social problem: the possibility that social criticism may go unnoticed within the spaces of agroecological fairs due to the dominant influence of modern agricultural discourse that relies on scientific concepts to support the capitalist system, leading to the normalization of environmental injustices and the reduction of the educational potential of resistance territories. To address this issue, qualitative research methods were employed in conjunction with the theoretical-methodological framework of Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis and participant observation. In this context, an analysis of the dynamics and practices of the MOGICO association (Monte de Gente Interessada em Cultivo Orgânico) was conducted to construct the social context of the research, and the discourses of producers and consumers of the Organic and Agroecological Fair of MOGICO in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, were examined to understand the potential of the meanings attributed to these discourses for the production of critical educabilities regarding the national agricultural situation. In other words, the aim was to understand whether these discourses encompass the criticisms made possible by agroecological practice and the struggles of agroecological producers for Environmental Justice, thereby making these spaces conducive to the realization of Critical Environmental Education. The research is premised on the assumption that the Brazilian agricultural logic and the inherent socio-environmental issues stem from modern/colonial impositions of a way of existence based on the logic of domination and exploitation. To highlight this issue, the perspective of Political Ecology, with an emphasis on the Latin American view, is adopted, allowing for a better understanding of the relationships between agribusiness, environmental education, and Agroecology, emphasizing how power structures and exploitation influence the current configuration of the Brazilian agricultural system. Overall, the results revealed counter-hegemonic influences and perspectives that challenge the dominant market logic, valuing the autonomy of farmers, cooperation, and family production. The conclusion highlights the emancipatory educational potential of agroecological fairs in promoting critical reflection on the agricultural production system and strengthening a broad and transformative understanding of agroecology, empowering participants towards critical thinking