PSGs : agroecological solutions for overcoming a change of paradigm

Abstract

Participatory Systems of Guarantee (PSGs) arise when proposed by civil society, revolving around the production and commercialization of ecological foods. They are constructed as an alternative to the model of certification by a third party, in order to guarantee that productive initiatives which are not covered by the official system are still able to access the certified product sector / market.

Their dynamism is that they are constantly evaluating and reviewing their structures and procedures, as a result of their constant interaction with their environment. Given this characteristic, in reality PSGs are reaching great levels of complexity, not only internally – as part of the same system – but in a global sense, where organizations are using a number of them in line with diverse criteria.

Their social design and focus on the system, as well as the sensitivity that they show for processes of co-evolution, allow us to visualize them as one of the possible tools that will permit the transition from one system to another.

The systems themselves (integrated in political agroecology), and the activities that they encourage, widen the options for agroecological approaches. These can then be applied in territories that are working towards greater sustainability.