THE AGROECOLOGICAL TRANSITION IN THE CHICO MENDES - PE SETTLEMENT: AN EVALUATION OF AGROECOSYSTEMS IN SEARCH OF SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Sustainability studies of agroecosystems have highlighted the importance of taking a multidimensional approach. It is more relevant to family agroecosystems that are in an agroecological transition. This is the case of the Chico Mendes III Settlement, which has been in the process of change since 2009. Four representative agroecosystems of the Settlement were evaluated, which were compared to an ideal system in the agricultural year of 2017/2018. Environmental, social and economic indicators were used based on the Mesmis methodology. In all, 33 simple indicators and 10 composite indicators were used. The social dimension compromised the sustainability state of agroecosystems, compared to the ideal system, while the environmental and economic dimensions behaved satisfactorily. In general, these critical levels of the social dimension resulted from the low quality of life and low labor capacity of agroecosystems associated with limited access to public policies.