Natural agriculture in the Southern Pampas of Argentina: the case “Monte Callad

Abstract

In the Argentinean Pampas there are only a few documented cases of agroecological farmers. In the farm named “Monte callado”, located in the Southern Pampas, a family farmer develops since 2001 an agroecological experience, inspired in the philosophy of natural agriculture of Fukuoka. Here we characterized its main ecological-productive and socio -economic aspects, and we made a preliminaryevaluation of its level of autonomy (for the time period 2014-2018). For this, cartographicinformation, interviews and biodiversity indicators were used. Degree of diversification, subsystemsintegration and favorable features of socioeconomic viability were determined. There were registered 11 extensive crops, 31 vegetable and 18 fruit species. The livestock includes cow breedingand fattening cattle, as well as avian, pig and dairy production. No agrochemicals were used. Intensive production is destined mainly for self -consumption. Wheat flour is the main output of the system and the main monetary income. The food self -s ufficiency, the low use of external inputs and the direct commercialization with short channels are features of a high autonomy. This case evidences the convenience of the agroecological model in the Southern Pampas.