Scaling out agroecology from the school garden and the importance of recognizing culture, food, and place

We explore potential and limitations for agroecological scaling through formal educational structures, using the LabVida school gardens program in Chiapas, Mexico as a case study. Through LabVida training, educators gained an appreciation of agroecology and were able to apply agroecological practices in their school gardens, although their understanding of agroecological principles and scientific process remained limited. The greatest program impact was on educators' eating habits, and their perception of the value of local knowledge and its relevance to schoolwork. The case study demonstrates the potential of school gardens work for catalyzing communities of practice that contribute to agroecological scaling.

Automated summary

The LabVida school gardens program in Chiapas, Mexico serves as a case study for exploring the potential and limitations of scaling agroecology through formal educational structures. Educators were able to apply agroecological practices in their school gardens after training, although their understanding of agroecological principles and scientific process remained limited. The program had the most impact on educators' eating habits and their perception of the value of local knowledge in schoolwork. This case study highlights the potential of school gardens in catalyzing communities of practice for agroecological scaling.