New Article on Diversification and Transformative Agroecology with Cooperatives 

Christopher M. Bacon (Environmental Studies and Sciences), Alejandra Guzmán Luna (Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico), V. Ernesto Mendéz (University of Vermont) and co-authors from cooperatives and universities in Nicaragua and Chiapas Mexico recently published an article in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems assessing the extent to which diversification among coffee smallholders in Mesoamerica can contribute to a transformative agroecology and improved livelihoods. The study also analyzes the potential role of participatory action research (PAR) in fostering diversification and food sovereignty. The research teams replicated methods in both locations embedding a mixed methods study within a PAR approach to conduct 338 surveys, 96 interviews, 44 focus groups, and participant observation during two international farmer-to-farmer exchanges. Findings show that although coffee-producing households in both locations report several diversification activities, more than 50% still experience annual periods of food scarcity. Discussions of findings with study participants suggest that farmers and co-ops are in the early stages of developing transformative agroecology initiatives for food sovereignty. Significant challenges to these efforts include decades of political economic exclusion and dependence on coffee sales. Leverage points to advance this goal include increasing land access, farm diversification for subsistence, native seed conservation, and diversifying diets.