Sistematização da experiência da CooperAPAs: uma cooperativa de produtores agroecológicos de parelheiros, São Paulo/SP / Systematization of experience CooperAPAs: a cooperative of agroecological producers Parelheiros, São Paulo/ SP

A transição agroecológica, enquanto um processo de estímulo à adoção de práticas agrícolas sustentáveis implica na gradual construção do conhecimento agroecológico, por meio da troca de saberes, experiências e interpretação dos (as) agricultores (as) sobre os contextos em que vivem e produzem, configurando-se em um modo alternativo de produção, em contraponto ao modelo atual convencional. Novos caminhos que tragam a conservação da biodiversidade, a autorrealização individual e comunitária, e a autogestão política e econômica são prioritários e urgentes. A presente pesquisa teve por objetivo sistematizar a experiência de transição agroecológica da CooperAPAs, localizada em Parelheiros, zona sul do município de São Paulo, por meio da identificação de representações de agroecologia, relações saúde, ambiente e políticas públicas, bem como os principais interesses e dificuldades de agricultores e técnicos envolvidos em algum momento específico da trajetória de formação, implementação e/ou desenvolvimento da CooperAPAs. Foi utilizado o método de sistematização de experiências, tendo como instrumentos de pesquisa a análise documental, entrevistas e oficina de construção da linha do tempo. De modo geral, os participantes reconheciam impactos positivos e negativos de suas ações sobre a saúde e o ambiente. Dentre as necessidades identificadas, destacou-se maior sensibilização e empoderamento de todos os cooperados, para que possam contribuir mais ativamente no fortalecimento da cooperativa, a fim de garantir maior acesso às políticas públicas vigentes, ao mercado, e à comercialização, melhorando, consequentemente, condições socioambientais e econômicas destes agricultores. Para tal, recomenda-se a adoção, pela cooperativa, de estratégias socioeducativas participativas, como a Aprendizagem Social, que favoreçam o diálogo, a negociação de conflitos e a gestão compartilhada, como um novo caminho para a CooperAPAs.

The agroecological transition, as an incentive to process the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, implies the gradual construction of agroecological knowledge through the exchange of knowledge, experiences and interpretation of the farmers about the contexts in which they live and produce by setting up an alternate mode of production, in contrast to conventional current model. New ways to bring biodiversity conservation, self individual achievement and community, and the political and economic self-management, are priorities and urgent. This study aimed to systematise the agroecological transition experience of CooperAPAs, located in Parelheiros, south zone of São Paulo, through the identification of agroecology representations, healthy relationships, environment and public policy, and the main interests and difficulties of farmers and technicians involved in any specific time of training course, implementation and / or development of CooperAPAs. We used the method of systematization of experiences, having as research tools to document analysis, interviews and the timeline building workshop. In general, participants recognized both positive and negative impacts of their actions on health and the environment. Among the identified needs, there is increased awareness and empowerment of all members, so that they can contribute more actively in strengthening the cooperative in order to ensure greater access to existing public policies, market, and marketing, improving, consequently, social, environmental and economic conditions of these farmers. To this end, it recommends the adoption by the cooperative, participatory social and educational strategies such as social learning, to encourage dialogue, conflict negotiation and shared management, as a new way to CooperAPAs.

Validation of a fecal glucocorticoid metabolite assay for collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu).

The possibility of assessing endogenous adrenal activity in the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) was tested by using an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge in a fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) assay. Feces were collected from 12 captive adult male peccaries beginning 48 hr prior to challenge; six of these animals received the challenge as an ACTH injection and the other six were injected with saline solution. Feces collection ended 120 hr after injections. As a control, feces were collected for eight consecutive days from another six adult male peccaries that remained in their original mixed-sex herds in semiconfined paddocks. All feces samples were freeze-dried, extracted by an ethanol vortex method, and assayed for glucocorticoids by means of an enzyme immunoassay. FGM concentrations were compared between the treatments by a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a post hoc Tukey test. The assay is reliable but, instead of the usual proportion of 1:50 in ethanol (fecal mass:solvent), 1:10 is recommended for best extraction of FGM. Baseline FGM concentrations were similar among the ACTH, saline, and control treatments (29.7 +/- 11.2 ng/g(-1) dry feces) during the 48 hr before the challenge. The ACTH group reached an FGM excretion peak at 24 hr post-treatment, followed by a decline, while in the control and saline groups FGM levels remained relatively constant. Therefore, the fecal glucocorticoid metabolite assay reflects endogenous adrenal activity in the collared peccary and is a powerful tool for noninvasive stress monitoring in peccaries.