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Vine and know-how in the Swiss Vineyards: Knowledge construction in the transition from synthetic pesticides to biodynamic viticulture

Simonetti, Rebecca LU (2022) HEKM51 20221
Department of Human Geography
Human Ecology
Abstract
Knowledge is a key element in the transition to sustainable agriculture. Focusing on the biodynamic viticulture in Switzerland, this thesis investigates how winegrowers learn to change their practices to produce, without synthetic pesticides, in the context of conventional agriculture hegemony. The interviews conducted with biodynamic winegrowers, having carried out a transition, resulted in several findings. First, the winegrowers see biodynamic and conventional productions as a different approach to all the cultivation aspects, from mindset to practice. Second, they acknowledged a loss of local knowledge, as a generational rupture in the transmission of know-how. The learning process of the winegrowers requires many sources to construct... (More)
Knowledge is a key element in the transition to sustainable agriculture. Focusing on the biodynamic viticulture in Switzerland, this thesis investigates how winegrowers learn to change their practices to produce, without synthetic pesticides, in the context of conventional agriculture hegemony. The interviews conducted with biodynamic winegrowers, having carried out a transition, resulted in several findings. First, the winegrowers see biodynamic and conventional productions as a different approach to all the cultivation aspects, from mindset to practice. Second, they acknowledged a loss of local knowledge, as a generational rupture in the transmission of know-how. The learning process of the winegrowers requires many sources to construct knowledge, both old practices and modern science techniques are used in the biodynamic vineyards. The most important component is the adaptation of the acquired knowledge to the locality, therefore creating local knowledge. The main source of knowledge used in this learning process is the horizontal sharing between peers and field experience, strongly tied to observation and connectedness to the vine. Winegrowers are constantly learning, constructing and producing knowledge around their craftsmanship and sustainable practices, contributing to restoring the metabolic and knowledge rifts crated by industrial viticulture. Therefore, this research demonstrates the transition process from conventional to biodynamic viticulture from a knowledge perspective. (Less)
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author
Simonetti, Rebecca LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM51 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
local knowledge, metabolic and knowledge rift, synthetic pesticide use, conventional viticulture, biodynamic production, agricultural transition.
language
English
id
9079693
date added to LUP
2022-10-14 12:48:40
date last changed
2022-10-14 12:48:40
@misc{9079693,
  abstract     = {{Knowledge is a key element in the transition to sustainable agriculture. Focusing on the biodynamic viticulture in Switzerland, this thesis investigates how winegrowers learn to change their practices to produce, without synthetic pesticides, in the context of conventional agriculture hegemony. The interviews conducted with biodynamic winegrowers, having carried out a transition, resulted in several findings. First, the winegrowers see biodynamic and conventional productions as a different approach to all the cultivation aspects, from mindset to practice. Second, they acknowledged a loss of local knowledge, as a generational rupture in the transmission of know-how. The learning process of the winegrowers requires many sources to construct knowledge, both old practices and modern science techniques are used in the biodynamic vineyards. The most important component is the adaptation of the acquired knowledge to the locality, therefore creating local knowledge. The main source of knowledge used in this learning process is the horizontal sharing between peers and field experience, strongly tied to observation and connectedness to the vine. Winegrowers are constantly learning, constructing and producing knowledge around their craftsmanship and sustainable practices, contributing to restoring the metabolic and knowledge rifts crated by industrial viticulture. Therefore, this research demonstrates the transition process from conventional to biodynamic viticulture from a knowledge perspective.}},
  author       = {{Simonetti, Rebecca}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Vine and know-how in the Swiss Vineyards: Knowledge construction in the transition from synthetic pesticides to biodynamic viticulture}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}