Socio-ecological insights into the development of agrarian professionals

Abstract

There is a lack of information about the factors responsible for the effectiveness of environmental policies in Brazilian agriculture. This study aimed at identifying the perception and practices of agrarian professionals. The data analysis was carried out using a survey and methodological approaches focusing on environmental complexity and categorization of environmental actions. Quantitative analysis was based on descriptive statistics. Atmospheric problems were perceived as the main problems for the current and next two generations, while hydrological problems were indicated as those deserving most urgent solutions. On the other hand, the main developed actions and those planned to be carried out were classified within the responsibility category. Because of the reductionist perceptions, introduction of the concept of a socio-ecological system is indicated by means of methodological interventions during the development of agrarian professionals; also, in order to stimulate actions related to the competence and citizenship category, a methodological intervention focusing on resilience thinking is proposed. Typical actions of individuals with either reductionist or complex conceptions of the environment can be captured and, therefore, educational strategies can be traced based on the profiles obtained.

Keywords:

• environmental perception
• environmental complexity
• categorization of environmental practices
• agrarian professionals
• resilience thinking
• socio-ecological system

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to FAPEMIG and CNPq for financial support, studentships (to M.R.F. and S.V.B.G.M.), and fellowships (to R.L.G.M. and N.V.).

Supplementary data

Supplementary data for this article can be accessed here.