FEEDING THE WEST, STARVING THE REST? Examining Agricultural Policies and the Impact on Rural Farmer Land Rights in Latin America

Background Structural adjustment and the neoliberal takeover Failures of neoliberalism and the democratic wave Post-Neoliberalism or more of the same? Post Post-Neoliberalism? The rise of sustainable intensification, agroecology, and food sovereignty movements

Research Questions How have agriculture and food policy in Latin American countries evolved in the emerging shift from export-oriented agriculture during structural adjustment and the subsequent period of neoliberalism, to the emergence of a kind of post-neoliberalism? How have these policies impacted rural farmers’ land rights?

Agricultural Neoliberalism Early 1980s – mid/late 1990s Reduction of state marketing boards Elimination of price controls on inputs and food commodities Elimination of small-farmer subsidies and barriers to trade Large-scale land reform – ownership to management, increased limits, foreign ownership – leading to large scale export farms Implementation of GR technologies

Failures and the Left Turn Poor access to international markets, increased poverty and unemployment rates, decreased institutional supports Democratic wave Post-Neoliberalism – targeted poverty programming, public works programs Discursive changes – World Bank Report on Agriculture

Post-Post Neoliberalism? Increased momentum of civil society to prevent co- optation of post-neoliberal movements Emerging movements were largely led by small, rural farmers and indigenous populations, as well as academics – sustainable intensification, agroecology, and food sovereignty Movements to improve tenancy rights, privilege indigenous knowledge traditions, increase farmer autonomy and reduce debts, increase sustainability

Brazil Real Plan of 1994 Post-Neoliberalism Intensified soybean production Deforestation of large regions Agroecology taking hold – ending the concentration of arable land, Agricultural Autonomous Schools Porto Alegre protests

Peru Strong neoliberal agenda and the uprising of the Sendero Luminoso Reclaiming of neoliberal dominance under Fujimori – Agricultural Investment Promotion Law 1991 FONCODE, Juntos, Haku Wiñay, and NGOs Agroecology and terraced farming National Strategy for Food and Nutritional Security – Food Sovereignty

Final Thoughts and Moving Forward In the short term – sustainable intensification through agro- ecological means to maintain access to food while reform takes place Medium term – enact legislation for indigenous and rural farmers in a way that respects and encompasses communal claims to traditional farmland – Improvement of credit schemes by the state – Building of capacity to meaningfully participate, knowledge networks – Strengthen informed consent Long term: food sovereignty in policy planning