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Public policies and issues for the ecological transition
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PUBLIC POLICY AND CHALLENGES FOR THE ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION
Although small-scale agriculture is the dominant model in the Caribbean/Amazon region, paradoxically, it is the least monitored, documented, and considered by public policies.
Small-scale agriculture in these regions fulfills crucial functions such as ensuring food security, preserving cultures and traditions, generating employment in rural areas, and promoting local economic progress. However, it faces significant obstacles, including land pressure, the impacts of climate change, and increased competition from imported products. These challenges highlight the urgent need to support this sector to ensure its sustainability and sustainable development.
Due to their organization and legal status, not all the farmers involved benefit from public policies. To enable small-scale agriculture to benefit from public agricultural policies, CambioNet project aims to provide support to public actors and assist in the adaptation of policy tools. It also aims to help beneficiaries adapt to the current system.
METHODOLOGY
The presented study assesses the role of Small-Scale Bioeconomic and Agroecological Agriculture (APEBA) within agricultural policies in various territories of the Caribbean and the Amazon. It utilizes an analysis framework based on four themes: political discourse, legal frameworks, implemented tools, and the outcomes of public policies, aiming to compare the levels of community, national, and regional study.
Public policies are crucial to understand the intentions and objectives of policymakers. Public policies provide the framework within which governments and public authorities intervene to shape society and territorial planning, aiming to address current needs and challenges.
They are based on legal frameworks that define the institutions authorized to develop and enforce legal standards. These policies take the form of specific programs promoted by a government authority, according to Muller (2009).
The institutional configuration adopted is strongly influenced by the structure and specific character of the State. The concept of public policy is conceptualized as the action of an authority with public power and governmental legitimacy, intervening in a specific sector of society or territory, according to Thoenig et al. (1990).
In other words, public policies embody the coordinated and strategic efforts of governments to influence and regulate various aspects of social, economic, cultural, or environmental life. The analysis focused on four territories in the Caribbean/Amazon involved in the CambioNet project. The Commonwealth of Dominica and Guadeloupe were selected due to their insular nature, while Guyana and Suriname were chosen for their Amazonian context. Among these four territories, two are French overseas regions, while the other two are independent nations, leading to notable differences in their legal frameworks.
Given the structural differences between these territories, it was essential to examine public actions in agriculture at various scales:
The main results:
COMMUNITY
Community agricultural policies are influenced by organizations such as CARICOM and OECS, which, although non-binding, promote regional integration and cooperation between states. And also by the European Union: Guadeloupe and Guyana, as outermost regions, are subject to EU policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy that promotes sustainable and organic agriculture.
REGIONAL
French regions such as Guadeloupe and Guyana benefit from the NOTRe law which gives them more autonomy to develop and execute regional agricultural policies.
NATIONAL
Dominica and Suriname, as independent nations, have distinct national agricultural policies, with a focus on economic development and climate resilience. France stands out for the integration of agroecology into its rural code and actively supports the adoption of agroecological practices by farmers.
The legal frameworks of agricultural policies are also examined, highlighting the diversity of political and legal models in place. APEBA, while not framed by specific legislation, is integrated into the sustainable agricultural development strategies of these territories, often linked to agroecological practices and support for small-scale farms. In Dominica, efforts are made to become a global center for agricultural resilience, while in Guadeloupe, the Regional Strategic Plan for an Agroecological Transition aims to strengthen small farms and promote agroecology, relying on European, national, and regional funding, and promoting innovation and training in the agricultural sector. In Guyana, the Regional Sustainable Agriculture Plan supports family farming and agroecological transition. Suriname, on the other hand, does not focus on agroecology but rather aims for economic independence and national socio-economic security.
The transition to agroecological and bioeconomic agriculture is approached in different ways in the agricultural policies of the Caribbean and the Amazon, with a particular emphasis on sustainability, conservation of natural resources, and support for small farms in some regions. Moreover, small-scale bioeconomic and agroecological agriculture presents potential advantages in terms of resilience and adaptation to climate change, but it faces financial challenges and legislative constraints in some areas.
However, there is immense potential to advance agroecological agriculture with the support of policies and international recognition. Nevertheless, this potential remains underutilized due to several obstacles, such as lack of funding, absence of specific laws, and coordination issues. To make the most of agroecology and overcome its challenges, a comprehensive strategy is essential. This includes policy harmonization, better coordination, and easier access to funding. Support from international and regional actors, as well as the opportunity to adapt European policies to local needs, creates valuable opportunities for the advancement of agroecological agriculture in these areas.
In summary, this analysis highlights the urgency of joint action to maximize the strengths and opportunities offered, while effectively tackling existing weaknesses and challenges.