What happened to agroecology? Tracing Actors’ (Power) relations and the seeming dissipation of transition dynamics in Argentina’s Río Negro Valley

Abstract

In today’s context of polycrisis, agroecology has gained global attention as a transformative alternative for food systems. Although the COVID-19 pandemic initially spurred agroecological practices, these dynamics proved difficult to sustain. This paper explores the seeming dissipation of agroecological transition efforts in Argentina through a political ecology lens, drawing on a case study of the Colectivo Agroecológico (ColAE) in the Valle Inferior de Río Negro. By applying social capital theory, we analyze the movement’s trajectory and identify key barriers to local transition efforts – particularly where (un)shared values, perceptions, and trust intersect with broader political and power dynamics. Our findings challenge linear narratives of scaling and success, exposing risks of epistemic mismatch and institutional co-option. We argue for the strategic value of ‘de-linking’ and propose reimagining transition’s success through metrics rooted in autonomy, resilience, and movement-led priorities.