Information regime of agroecological living labs in universities

Abstract

Introduction: The climate crisis and challenges associated with food security have intensified the debate on the limits of the agro-industrial model and the need to transition to more sustainable agri-food systems. Agroecology has emerged as a counter-hegemonic alternative, articulating socio-environmental justice, ecological diversity, and social innovation. Public universities occupy a strategic position in this process. Living labs are emerging as socio-technical arrangements geared towards the collective construction of knowledge in real contexts. Objective: To analyse the conditioning factors and challenges for the creation and maintenance of an agroecological living lab at a Brazilian public university, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Methodology: The research is qualitative, exploratory and applied, structured as a case study. Bibliographic and documentary research was used, in addition to field research, with semi-structured interviews and analysis of testimonials from actors involved in agroecology on the UFRJ campus. The theoretical-methodological framework articulates the concepts of agroecology, social innovation, living labs and information regime. Results: The results show that UFRJ's agroecology initiatives are those of a living lab, operating as a complex informational ecosystem, marked by the diversity of actors, informational environments and collaborative practices, but crossed by institutional weaknesses, discontinuities and the absence of integrated information policies. Conclusion: The consolidation of agroecological living labs in public universities requires the strengthening of institutional and informational mechanisms that ensure the continuity of actions and coordination between teaching, research, and extension, contributing to ecological transition and the democratisation of knowledge.