Abstract

CHAVEZ-CAIZA, Jenny-Paola  and  BURBANO-RODRIGUEZ, Rafael-Tiberio. Climate Change and Agro-ecological, Organic and Conventional Production Systems in the Cantons of Cayambe and Pedro Moncayo. Letras Verdes [online]. 2021, n.29, pp.149-166. ISSN 1390-6631.  https://doi.org/10.17141/letrasverdes.29.2021.4751.

This article analyzes the impact of climate change on agroecological, organic and conventional production in the cantons of Cayambe and Pedro Moncayo due to the challenges of the Ecuadorian agricultural sector in the face of environmental deterioration. The methodology of multi-criteria analysis is applied to determine the best agricultural production alternative, based on its performance in the following indicators: economic, social, environmental, institutional and productive. Producers from the agroecological, organic and conventional systems participated in the study. The information was collected through surveys and analysis of official documents from the cantons. The fulfillment of each of the steps of the multi-criteria analysis allowed us to conclude that the best production system is agroecology, followed by the organic production system. The least adequate is the conventional production system. These systems are affected differently by climate change and their contribution to environmental deterioration is also differentiated. The water and carbon footprint for the organic system is 39.9 m3/Ton and 1.07 TonCO2/Kg of product respectively; while for the agroecological system it is 77.3 m3/Ton and 0.10 TonCO2/Kg of product. The conventional system is the worst scored, with a stronger environmental impact (water footprint = 300.3m3/Ton and carbon footprint = 1.87TonCO2/Kg of product). The study shows that the agroecological system is the best prepared for these events, which means that it is less vulnerable and more resilient in general terms.

Keywords : agroecology; climate change; conventional agriculture; multi-criteria analysis; organic agriculture; production system.

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