Market Ideologies for Agroecology and the Promise of Socio-Economic Resilience: The Case of Argentina

Agroecology in Argentina has evolved through social movements that challenge the agribusiness model and Green Revolution technologies from the 1990s. It has been promoted as a means to achieve food sovereignty, environmental sustainability, and human health, and has garnered support through collaborations among diverse actors, leading to its integration into policy, education, and research sectors. Notable advances include the establishment of social welfare programs and networks that facilitate the exchange of knowledge while promoting its practices. While these developments have opened up the development of agroecology in the country, they have primarily focused on technical assistance, contributing to progress in areas like agronomic practices, and policy and expert discussions

However, despite the existence of alternative markets for agroecological products, the market dimension of agroecology still remains underexplored. Although they show potential to shift towards sustainable food systems, questions about their organization remain outstanding – particularly on marketing strategies and quality assurance.

Therefore we ask how does agroecology become a recognized value through the networks that promote it within market channels?

We conducted qualitative research in Argentina, collecting data from social and market initiatives claiming ‘agroecological’, to examining their quality assurance systems and market governance. We then compared their claims with three agroecological frameworks – FAO 10 Elements, HLPE 13 Principles, and Nyéléni 11 Pillars – to unveil the market ideology for agroecology in the Argentinean context.

After understanding how agroecological principles and elements differ in their approach to market development and outcomes, we open up discussion on what organizational mechanisms and institutions are necessary to further legitimize agroecology, how initiatives can move beyond technical assistance to build resilient markets, and how markets can ensure credibility and evolve into mainstream platforms.