The agri-exporting enclaves of the current corporate food regime intensively exploit natural assets in global strategies that govern the local processes. Their multidimensional impacts contribute to the environmental and civilizational crisis. Linked to the agrarian metabolism in its appropriation phase, land use has impacts on local systems. To understand this process, it is necessary to identify the systemic and spatial expression of environmental transformation. The objective of this work was to analyze the dynamic adjustment of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) to agricultural intensification between the years 2000 and 2017, using a land use intensity index and the soils’ productive potential. Agricultural expansion and consolidation are observed, as well as the significant intensification throughout the period in 65% of the country’s area—with differences between regions—associated with soil types. ANPP is higher in areas of low land use intensity and lower in high intensity areas, varying from high to low in soils with low to high productive potential, respectively, and growing throughout the period—depending on the area, with less growth in areas of greater intensity. The appropriation of edaphic wealth puts the systemic functionality at risk and challenges these transforming dynamics, with a strong impact on southern systems.

From its origins, agroecology in Uruguay has been considered as a critique of the dominant industrial agriculture model and linked to the development of alternative thinking from multiple actors. It aims to strengthen the ecological processes in agricultural systems while discussing the phenomena of concentration, alienation, and access to land, along with the problems of family agriculture and food sovereignty. Against the deepening of the industrialized model of agriculture, different actors drive the development of a National Agroecology Plan. An agroecological transition process is proposed by building sustainable development options, which arises from the agrarian and extends to the whole society.

The erratic nature, increasing prevalence, and intensity of extreme meteorological phenomena are forcing researchers and farmers to urgently develop adaptation practices to enhance the resilience of agroecosystems to climate change. It is strategically crucial to identify farming systems that have successfully endured recent climatic disturbances and understand the agroecological attributes that enabled them to resist and/or recover from droughts and hurricanes. This paper describes a number of methodologies utilized by Latin American researchers to assess agroecosystem resilience by estimating the vulnerability and the response capacity of selected farming systems to cope with climatic threats. The methodologies utilize a set of socio-ecological indicators that can be easily evaluated in the field, allowing farmers to determine whether their farms can withstand a drought or a major storm and, based on this information, select agroecological practices able to enhance the resiliency of their farms in preparation for future events. The principles and practices of resilience identified on successful, climate-resistant farms can be shared with thousands of producers, facilitating the broader adoption and scaling up of agroecological adaptation strategies.

La agricultura familiar agroecológica en Uruguay tiene una trayectoria de más de treinta años y es crecientemente reconocida como una opción válida de transformación del sistema alimentario. Sin embargo, no se dispone de información básica e integral del sector. Se sistematizó la información recabada por la Red de Agroecología del Uruguay para los años 2020 y 2021, siendo esta organización la única que certifica para el mercado interno mediante un Sistema Participativo de Garantía. Los resultados obtenidos permiten definir varios aspectos del sector. El número de predios certificados aumenta 120% entre 2012 y 2021. La venta de alimentos ecológicos, principalmente hortalizas, alcanzó USD 6,4 millones en 2021 y creció 2,1 veces entre 2012 y 2021. El 92% de los predios son de tipo familiar. La participación de mujeres en la titularidad de las explotaciones es del 42%, un valor superior al promedio nacional. La producción se distribuye entre 111 especies diferentes. El 75% de los predios produce semillas propias y el 87% dispone de áreas silvestres para conservación. Las prácticas más comunes de manejo de suelo son el uso de abonos verdes, la rotación de cultivos, y el uso de compost y biofertilizantes. Los canales de venta directa al consumidor son los más frecuentemente utilizados. Por primera vez se presenta información integral representativa del mercado interno de alimentos ecológicos en el país. Se espera que estos aportes sean de utilidad para comprender los procesos de transición en agroecología y para apoyar la definición de las agendas de diversos actores vinculados a la agroecología.

In the context of agrarian intensification and unsustainability of family livestock farming in Uruguay, it is important to understand the critical elements of productive units to guide possible improvement strategies. This study integrates socioeconomic and environmental information collected through a system of records of the project “Improvements in Family Livestock Farming Sustainability in Uruguay” (inia, mgap and the Agricultural Plan Institute). The system evaluated, interpreted and identified critical points for extensive family farming systems. This study presents the constructions of a multicriteria approach of sustainability indicators incorporating environmental, social and productive aspects to evaluate 13 Uruguayan family livestock systems. The results show low relative values in the indicators of the environmental dimension, allowing to direct possible changes in the practices of the productive system. On the other hand, with this case study, the importance of considering a multidimensional vision in the analysis of production systems is evident in order to contemplate all their complexity and identify the critical aspects to take into account. En un contexto de intensificación agraria e insustentabilidad de la ganadería familiar en Uruguay, es importante comprender los elementos críticos de las unidades productivas para orientar posibles estrategias de mejora. El presente trabajo aúna información socioeconómica y ambiental predial recogida a través de un sistema de registros del proyecto «Mejora en la Sostenibilidad de la Ganadería Familiar de Uruguay» (inia, mgap e Instituto Plan Agropecuario), diseñado para identificar, evaluar e interpretar aspectos clave para la ganadería extensiva familiar. Se integraron aspectos ambientales, sociales y productivos en un conjunto de indicadores multicriterio, para la evaluación de la sustentabilidad en 13 predios familiares. Los resultados muestran bajos valores relativos en los indicadores de la dimensión ambiental, permitiendo orientar posibles cambios en las prácticas del sistema productivo. Por otro lado, con este estudio de casos, se evidencia la importancia de considerar una visión multidimensional en el análisis de los sistemas productivos para contemplar toda su complejidad e identificar los aspectos críticos a tener en cuenta. Em um contexto de intensificação e de insustentabilidade da pecuária familiar no Uruguai, é importante compreender os elementos críticos das unidades produtivas para orientar possíveis estratégias de melhoramento. O presente trabalho reúne informações socioeconômicas e ambientais de sítios coletadas por meio do sistema de registros do projeto “Melhoria da Sustentabilidade da Pecuária Familiar no Uruguai” (INIA, MGAP e Instituto Plan Agropecuario) desenhado para identificar, avaliar e interpretar aspectos fundamentais para a pecuária familiar extensiva. Foram integrados aspectos ambientais, sociais e produtivos sob um conjunto de indicadores multicritério para a avaliação da sustentabilidade em 13 sítios familiares. Os resultados mostram baixos valores relativos nos indicadores da dimensão ambiental, permitindo orientar possíveis mudanças nas práticas do sistema produtivo. De outro lado, com este estudo de casos, evidencia-se a importância de levar em conta uma visão multi-dimensional na análise dos sistemas produtivos para contemplar toda sua complexidade e identificar os aspectos críticos a serem considerados.

The risk of family farmers in the Protected Area Esteros de Farrapos (APEF) increases with synergy between flooding and reduced grazing areas outside the estuary. This study analyzed the extent of the frequency of flooding by determining the height of the water surface of the río Uruguay in a period of eight years and the number of days when the water level exceeded the thresholds handled by producers. The paper analyzes the ways livestock producers internalize the risk. The risk was analyzed with the holistic risk index (Barrera et al., 2007) that combines threat, responsiveness and vulnerability. The water height thresholds were determined by in-depth interviews. The water exceeded the threshold of 3 masl, therefore cattle have to be out of the estuary, during 334 days out of a total of 2914 presenting a seasonal distribution with major frequency in the following order: spring-summer-winter-autumn. Four producers have low risk due to high responsiveness; 18 present medium risk divided in: high vulnerability and lower vulnerability and increased responsiveness; and three producers are at a high risk due to high threat and vulnerability and lower responsiveness. The relationship threat-responsiveness was inversely proportional and significant. Responsiveness linked with agro-ecological principles and criteria helps orienting strategies between producers and managing of the area.