Conscious Consumption – How to Practice It?

Conscious consumption is any act or practice aimed at improving our consumption habits and reflecting on the impact they may have on our finances, the environment and society. It means thinking about the smart use of resources, the quality of what we buy and also circularity, recovery and reuse.

What does this have to do with agroforestry?

When we look at the food system as it is today, it is not hard to see that collapse is near. Large areas devoted to producing a few species; intensive use of chemicals such as fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides; standardized crops, nutritional impoverishment, degradation of soil and air, and many other effects that conventional agriculture has had on the planet. Agroforestry, as a biodiverse, resilient and regenerative production system, is a solution for feeding a growing population when applied at scale. The good news is that large corporations are increasingly interested in regenerative agriculture, so there is hope the situation can be reversed, even if slowly.

How to start?

As consumers, we can also do our part by rethinking our consumption habits and changing the micro to reach the macro. Some food shopping practices can be rescued from the habits of previous generations, for example:

– Go to street markets and buy directly from producers instead of large supermarket chains. This way you can know where your food comes from, generate fair income for small local farmers and artisans, and build a more human connection with the people doing the work;

– Visit your city's municipal market. These markets are great places to find a wide variety of products and support the local economy, and they are also cultural centers where you can learn more about your region's history;

– If there are no street markets in your city or neighborhood and the supermarket is your only option, you can still be selective about what you buy. It is worth asking staff where the food comes from, especially vegetables;

– Eat diverse foods produced by family farmers, encouraging them to keep growing plants and raising animals that are of no interest to large landowners, helping conserve species and a wealth of nutritious foods (for example, unconventional food plants, known in Brazil as PANCs);

– Prioritize seasonal food, which has more nutritional value, is cheaper because there is more of it available, and is fresher;

– Don't be fooled by appearances: imperfect vegetables are not inferior in nutritional value or quality in general, and buying them reduces waste at the end of the chain, since this food is usually thrown away.

What if I live in a big city?

You can find family farmers near you through social media and cooperative websites. These platforms usually let you buy individual products and also order baskets of the food they grow and/or prepare themselves. You can sign up for monthly packages and choose the kinds of food you want to receive, such as vegetables, fruit, cakes, jams, cured meats, cheese, honey, eggs and more.

One example is CSA Brasil (Community Supported Agriculture), which connects producers directly to consumers, valuing and transforming the relationship between buyers, farmers and nature. In this initiative, the community has the opportunity to take part in the production process and be in contact with the land, understand where their food comes from and meet the people who grow it. To learn more, visit: http://csabrasil.org/csa/