Pathways of action followed by Flemish beef farmers - an integrative view on agroecology as a practice

In the face of longstanding social and technological trends, the application of agroecological insights at beef farms in Flanders may at first seem a curious proposition. We found, however, that beef farmers pursue agroecological principles through an impressive diversity of practices in this context. In 37 semi-structured interviews, we asked farmers how they put into practice a set of principles which covers many themes addressed in agroecological literature. Inspired by a grounded theory approach, but also based on literature and consultation of fellow researchers, we conceptualized for each principle distinctive pathways of action to categorize relevant practices. By documenting farmers' practices, we show that an agronomic interpretation of agroecology as a practice obfuscates the many ways farmers can contribute to the social dimensions of agroecology too, which also problematizes those food systems approaches that undervalue the farmers' agency in changing their social context themselves. This grounded conceptual framework may be used to further assess how each beef farmer addresses these different principles together in practice. Given these results and perspectives, we contend that empirical inquiries such as these are instrumental in maintaining the connection between agroecological theory and practice, allowing both to move dialectically forward.

Automated summary

Through 37 semi-structured interviews with beef farmers in Flanders, it was discovered that farmers implement agroecological principles through diverse practices. By categorizing relevant practices based on distinctive pathways of action, it was found that an agronomic interpretation of agroecology as a practice can obscure the social dimensions of farmers' contributions to agroecology. This grounded conceptual framework can be used to assess how beef farmers address different principles together in practice.