Agroecology and the Struggle for Food Sovereignty ... - Yale University

interview: lec
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Interview: Ronaldo Lec
Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute (IMAP), Guatemala
Interviewer: Rebecca Reider
Q: What’s your reaction to the workshop, first of all? To the people from all these
different areas coming together?
A: Well, my initial concern was that it was going to be very académico (academic), and
very técnico (technical)… but it wasn’t. I think that’s a very positive outcome – to see
hope that things at this level of academia are being discussed in a very sincere way....
I thought it was very interesting to see the combination of farmers, grassroots
organizations, and academics – bringing them together. You don’t see that very often.
Q: What are the most valuable things you got for your work, or for the way you
think about your work?
A: Well, for one, it’s seeing examples of other people who are already doing things at
the grassroots level. That’s kind of how we find our inspiration – by seeing other
farmers or other communities being successful in what they’re doing. So that’s one
side, but the other side is to see these academics trying to question their work and
their approach....That gives me hope to really try to continue working with some
academics, to see that there is sincere interest in trying to find answers to these
questions that we also have.
Q: Were there specific things you saw in the other projects that were presented that
inspired you?
A: Yes – for example, to hear that there is a movement that is trying to link farmers
from the South to the North, engaging in dialogue and trying to unify the forces. I
think that’s something I value, to see that there’s really an actual force bigger than just
community work, that is addressing bigger issues, political issues, and that farmers
are supporting each other from the North and South. That’s one thing that really
inspired me.
The other is concrete examples. One thing that I find very interesting is this project
where they’re trying to address the issue of immigrants, how they go back home,
and how to engage these people in a very positive way – that they contribute to their
community, not only to their family. I always thought about it when I lived here in
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