Soils, agricultural development, and environmental education: integrated ecological economics approaches in contemporary agronomy
Suelos, desarrollo agrícola y educación ambiental: enfoques integrados desde la economía ecológica en la agronomía contemporáneaArticle Sidebar
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Context: Soil degradation, productive pressure on agroecosystems, and deficient environmental education create significant tensions between productivity, conservation, and rural equity, highlighting the need for integrative approaches in contemporary agronomy. Objective: to analyze the integration of soils, agricultural development, and environmental education through integrated ecological economics approaches in contemporary agronomy. Methods: this qualitative study employed an integrative review design with a descriptive-analytical scope. The data source comprised scientific publications, technical reports, and institutional documents published between 1997 and 2026. A purposive sample of 30 documents was selected based on thematic relevance, DOI/URL availability, and regional or global impact. Analysis utilized documentary techniques and thematic comparison, ensuring reliability through double-reading and citation traceability. Results: five integration cores were identified: 1) soil health as critical natural capital; 2) sustainable agriculture as ecological-productive redesign; 3) ecological economics as a pluralistic valuation framework; 4) agroecology as a socio-technical interface; and 5) environmental education as a mechanism for situated learning. Conclusion: contemporary agronomy must move beyond productivist soil perspectives by incorporating biophysical and social indicators and strengthening participatory educational processes to guide resilient, equitable, and ecologically viable agricultural transitions.
Contexto: La degradación del suelo, la presión productiva sobre los agroecosistemas y la limitada educación ambiental generan tensiones entre productividad, conservación y equidad rural, resaltando la necesidad de enfoques integradores en la agronomía contemporánea. Objetivo: Analizar la integración entre suelos, desarrollo agrícola y educación ambiental desde la perspectiva de la economía ecológica en la agronomía contemporánea. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio cualitativo, documental, con diseño de revisión integradora y alcance descriptivo-analítico. La población consistió en publicaciones científicas, informes técnicos y documentos institucionales sobre salud del suelo, agroecología, servicios ecosistémicos, economía ecológica y educación ambiental agrícola publicados entre 1997 y 2026. La muestra intencional incluyó 30 documentos seleccionados por pertinencia temática, disponibilidad de DOI o URL, actualidad y aporte regional o global. Se emplearon análisis documental, matriz de extracción y comparación temática, con instrumentos validados mediante revisión de congruencia interna y confiabilidad asegurada por doble lectura y trazabilidad de citas. Resultados: Se identificaron cinco núcleos de integración: 1) salud del suelo como capital natural crítico; 2) agricultura sostenible como rediseño ecológico-productivo; 3) economía ecológica como marco de valoración plural; 4) agroecología como interfaz técnico-social; y 5) educación ambiental como mecanismo de aprendizaje situado. Conclusiones: La agronomía contemporánea requiere superar la visión productivista del suelo, incorporar indicadores biofísicos y sociales, y fortalecer procesos educativos participativos para orientar transiciones agrícolas resilientes, equitativas y ecológicamente viables.
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