La Via Campesina (which translates to "The Peasant Way") is the global grassroots movement that represents the voice of peasants, small-[[scale]] farmers, landless workers, [[Indigenous]] communities, migrant farmers, and agricultural workers from around the world. Founded in 1993 in Mons, Belgium, it has grown to become one of the most influential social movements globally, with over 182 organizations in 81 countries, spanning [[Africa]], Asia, [[Europe]], and the Americas. ![[La Via Campesina.jpg]] #### Core Philosophy and Critique La Via Campesina directly confronts the inequalities of global [[Capitalism]] and the corporate-led agricultural model. Their critique is built on several key points: 1. Opposition to Neoliberal Trade Policies: They are a fierce critic of institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank, and International Monetary Fund ([[The International Monetary Fund|IMF]]), as well as free trade agreements. They argue these entities enforce rules that prioritise corporate profit over [[Food]] sovereignty, human rights, and [[Ecology|environmental]] sustainability. 2. Rejection of Industrial [[Agriculture]]: They oppose the "Green Revolution" model and its dependence on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, genetically modified seeds (GMOs), and large-scale monocultures. They argue this model destroys biodiversity, degrades soils, pollutes water, and makes farmers dependent on multinational [[Corporations]] like Bayer (Monsanto). 3. Resistance to Land Grabbing: They fight against the large-[[Scale]] acquisition of land by corporations and foreign governments, which displaces rural and indigenous communities. #### Key Concepts and Contributions La Via Campesina is not just a protest movement; it has developed powerful alternative frameworks. 1. Food Sovereignty: This is their most famous and influential concept. · What it is: Food Sovereignty is the right of peoples to define their own food and agricultural systems. It prioritizes local production and consumption, and puts the needs and rights of those who produce, distribute, and consume food at the heart of the system, rather than the demands of markets and corporations. · Contrast with "Food Security": While "food security" focuses only on ensuring people have enough to eat (regardless of where or how it was produced), "food sovereignty" is about how that food is produced, who produces it, and who controls the resources needed to produce it. 2. Agroecology: They champion Agroecology as the practical solution to achieve food sovereignty. Agroecology is a [[Farming]] method that: · Uses and enhances natural ecosystems rather than replacing them. · Is based on indigenous and traditional knowledge combined with modern science. · Promotes biodiversity, recycles nutrients, and does not rely on costly external inputs. · Is resilient to [[Climate Change]]. 3. Peasant Rights: After years of mobilization, La Via Campesina successfully campaigned at the United Nations for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP), which was adopted in 2018. This is a landmark legal instrument that protects the rights of small-scale food producers. #### Connections La Via Campesina embodies and puts into practice the theories of various critical thinkers: · Dependency/World-[[Systems Theory]]: They are the living resistance to the core-periphery exploitation. They are the "Periphery" organizing to challenge the "Core's" control over their seeds, land, and food systems. · Vandana Shiva: She is a key intellectual ally. Her fights against biopiracy and for seed sovereignty are central pillars of La Via Campesina's work. The movement actively promotes seed saving and fights against patenting life. · Ha-Joon Chang: Their demand for the right to protect their local markets and develop their own agricultural policies echoes Chang's "kicking away the ladder" argument. · Postcolonial Theory: Their struggle is fundamentally about decolonizing the food system. They seek to liberate agriculture from a model imposed by the Global North and controlled by multinational corporations, re-valuing local and indigenous knowledge. In summary, La Via Campesina is the practical, organized, and powerful manifestation of the critique of global capitalist inequality in the realm of food and agriculture. They are not just writing about the problem; they are building a global movement to create a viable, equitable, and sustainable alternative. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`