Abstract

CACERES, Daniel M. et al. Expansion of industrial agriculture in Central Argentina. Its impact on peasants' strategies. Cuad. Desarro. Rural [online]. 2010, vol.7, n.64, pp.91-119. ISSN 0122-1450.

In environmentally marginal areas of Argentina, is taking place a remarkable expansion of agrarian capitalism. The expansion of industrial agriculture is taking over areas formerly devoted to livestock and goat rearing. This process is particularly important in Northern and Western Córdoba, where peasant farming used to be widespread. Drawing upon a case study from Department Río Seco (Province of Córdoba, Argentina), we analyzed the impact of the expansion of industrial agriculture on peasant strategies. Results show that it is occurring a significant process of land-use intensification. Agriculturization negatively affects biodiversity, fosters economic inequality, and modifies and weakens peasants' strategies. At the expenses of both natural ecosystems and peasant communities, it is occurring one of the biggest transformations of natural capital into economic capital in the whole history of this region.

Keywords : Industrial Agriculture; Agriculturization; Soy Expansion; Peasant Strategies; Depeasantization.

        · abstract in Spanish | French     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )