Where Agriculture, Ecology and Social Justice Overlap

Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Georgina Catacora-Vargas. Photo Submitted.

Agroecology is an emerging topic for many audiences, yet the knowledge systems it draws upon are longstanding. The concept reflects the intersection of ecological science, agricultural practice, access to healthy food, gender equity, and the social conditions that shape how food systems function. Agroecology offers an empowering framework-one that supports the cultivation of healthy ecosystems while centering the well-being, knowledge, and agency of the people who steward them. It integrates ecological and social principles with social analysis, positioning food and agricultural systems within broader conversations about sustainability, justice, and rights.

Bolivian scholar Georgina Catacora-Vargas is among the most recognized voices advancing agroecology as both a scientific discipline and a transformative framework for food systems. During this academic year, she has been at Ithaca College as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, teaching students about the investigative tools and applied solutions agroecology offers in response to complex global challenges.

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) program aims to internationalize curricula, expand students' global perspectives, and introduce areas of study not currently represented within existing programs. It aims to promote cultural exchange and understanding

"That was true for our department," says Ithaca College Professor of History Michael Smith, faculty host to Catacora-Vargas. "We knew many students are interested in food systems, but we did not yet offer an agroecological perspective, which is becoming increasingly important globally."

He continues, "It was a long process - multiple months of applying and back-and-forth - and then waiting to see if we were selected. We were thrilled early last summer to receive confirmation that Georgina could join us."

Smith notes that Ithaca College has a strong tradition of engagement with the Fulbright program. "We consistently have faculty and students participating in Fulbright programs around the world," he says. "Hosting Georgina is another way of contributing to that tradition." Smith himself was a Fulbright Scholar in Nicaragua in 2017.

Students enrolled in the Spring Semester class ENVS 246, Agroecology and Human Rights learn about the interconnectedness of Agriculture, Ecology and Social Justice.Photo submitted.

Students enrolled in the Spring Semester class ENVS 246, Agroecology and Human Rights learn about the interconnectedness of Agriculture, Ecology and Social Justice.Photo submitted.

While the terminology may feel contemporary, agroecology builds upon traditional agricultural knowledge systems, many rooted in Indigenous and smallholder farming (farms that are 24.7n acres or less) traditions. Its relevance has increased as global food systems face mounting pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and widening inequalities in access to resources.

Catacora-Vargas explains, "Agroecology is a crucial strategy to advance the integral wellbeing of humans and non-human living organisms based on ecological and social principles that can adapt to different contexts. Ecologically, agroecology supports self-regulating systems that do not depend heavily on external inputs. Socially, it builds agency and strengthens the capacity for communities to solve their own problems on their own terms."

The Agroecology Fund, for which Catacora-Vargas serves as an advisor, describes agroecology as a system-wide approach to transformation. Rather than making incremental adjustments to unsustainable agricultural practices, agroecology addresses structural challenges including climate change, poor nutrition, and the consolidation of corporate power within food systems.

At its core, agroecology emphasizes working with locally available resources, ecological relationships, and traditional knowledge rather than relying heavily on external industrial inputs that may undermine long-term environmental health. Through diversified cropping systems, a management system that restores soil health, and community-centered decision-making, agroecological approaches strengthen resilience, sustainability, and food sovereignty.

The Goldman Environmental Prize, often referred to as the "Green Nobel," highlights examples of these impacts:

• Agroecological plots in Senegal demonstrated increased resilience to climate pressures through biodiversity-based farming practices.
  
• In Zimbabwe, farmers restored degraded land through water management strategies, intercropping, and crop rotation.
  
• Projects in Benin and Idaho show that transitioning to organic and ecologically diversified systems can reduce input costs, stabilize income through crop diversity, and strengthen food sovereignty.
  
• Research indicates that agroecological management improve soil fertility and long-term crop productivity, particularly in regions experiencing soil degradation.
  
• Beyond agricultural outcomes, agroecology contributes to social empowerment, particularly for women, through increased control over land, seeds, and water resources.

Students enrolled in the Spring Semester class ENVS 246, Agroecology and Human Rights. Photo Submitted.

Students enrolled in the Spring Semester class ENVS 246, Agroecology and Human Rights. Photo Submitted.

In the fall semester, students created a collage answering "What Does Agroecology Mean To Me?", which will appear in an upcoming issue of Rooted Magazine.

Catacora-Vargas taught The Sociology of Biodiversity in Agroecology in the fall semester and is currently teaching Agroecology and Human Rights in the spring. Both courses are housed in the Department of the Environment, reflecting agroecology's interdisciplinary foundations in ecology, sociology, economics, and environmental justice.

Shay Mogge '27, an Environmental Sciences major, says "Georgina's perspective is immensely valuable to me. She has both a depth and breadth of knowledge, and her excitement for the magic and artistry of biodiverse farming is absolutely infectious."

Students enrolled in the courses represent a range of academic backgrounds. Many are not Environmental Studies majors or minors, demonstrating the growing interest in interdisciplinary approaches that connect environmental sustainability with social equity, public health, culture, and policy.

Bella Bastos '26 is majoring in Film, Photography & Visual Art says she "was drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of the class. I want to work with environmental media." The term "environmental media" refers to films designed to highlight ecological issues, promote sustainability, or foster a deeper connection with nature. Think WALL-E, An Inconvenient Truth or Avatar.

Catacora-Vargas' work extends beyond the classroom into the surrounding community.

The Ithaca Community Gardens (ICG) provides a local example of agroecological principles in practice. "Part of my research involves understanding how community gardens provide space not only to grow food but also to build community, support mental health, and strengthen belonging," she explains.

The ICG operates through a cooperative structure that emphasizes shared stewardship of land and resources. Several plots are dedicated to producing food for local food banks, and participating gardeners donate surplus fruits, vegetables, and herbs to community organizations on a regular basis. The garden also offers educational programming, shared tools, organic compost resources, and a seed exchange network. Together, these practices demonstrate how agroecological principles can foster both ecological sustainability and social connection.

Catacora-Vargas is also studying student food environments by asking students directly what they eat, where their food originates, and what barriers they encounter in accessing nutritious options. She plans to conduct parallel research in Bolivia, enabling comparative insight into how food environments shape dietary practices and well-being across contexts.

When asked what agroecology means to them, students frequently use terms such as "future," "hope," "interconnectedness," "resilience," "opportunity," and "efficiency." In the fall semester, students created a collage reflecting these themes, which will appear in an upcoming issue of Rooted Magazine .

It's perhaps best summed up by Mogge: "My biggest takeaway has been that there's reason to be hopeful! Through class with Georgina, I discovered my own interest in the impacts of collectivized grassroots urban farming, which is a thread I'm planning on following beyond my undergrad experience at IC."

Catacora-Vargas concludes her courses by asking students to consider how their own work can contribute to ecological stewardship and social well-being. Final projects invite students to apply agroecological thinking to real-world challenges, demonstrating how systems-based approaches can inform more resilient and equitable food futures. And, as Caratcora-Varagas puts it, "demonstrates the capacity of undergraduate students-meaning youth-to meaningfully engage with their contexts when provided with alternatives for change and hope, as agroecology does."

Ithaca College's Department of the Environment offers Environmental Sciences as a major and a minor. The possibilities are endless and the impact is, too.