Núcleo de Educação, Pesquisa e Práticas em Agroecologia e Geografia - NEPPAG Ayni

The NEPPAG AYNI (Núcleo de Educação, Pesquisa e Práticas em Agroecologia e Geografia) at UFPE is dedicated to studying, discussing, and promoting agroecology both within and beyond the university setting. Its foundation is built on the triad of education, research, and extension, aiming to bridge theoretical and practical activities while connecting students with rural and urban social realities and social movements. The initiative fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange, emphasizing the importance of integrating different perspectives in agroecological practices.

A key focus of NEPPAG AYNI is facilitating technical visits and exchanges with agroecological farmers, fishers, traditional communities, and other groups connected to the land, forests, and waters. The program values hands-on learning and knowledge-sharing with social organizations to build a network of learning and collaboration. Its overarching goal is to critically examine agroecology, challenge the dominant development model, and advocate for communities' rights to life, natural resources, and agrobiodiversity from a socio-environmental perspective.

The initiative seeks to create an inclusive space for discussions and learning about agroecology, guided by principles such as knowledge dialogue, collective construction, and respect for diversity and life. NEPPAG AYNI encourages active participation from both students and faculty, aiming to strengthen academic engagement in agroecological topics and integrate the university more deeply into this field of study. It also supports the development of decolonized pedagogical approaches that bridge theory and practice.

NEPPAG AYNI’s objectives include promoting agroecology within academic spaces, ensuring holistic education at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and fostering knowledge exchange between urban and rural communities. It aims to create a space where research and extension efforts are interconnected, exploring alternative human-nature relationships. By engaging with agroecological experiences and socio-environmental conflicts, the initiative encourages critical reflection and action beyond the dominant agricultural paradigm. The pedagogical approach is rooted in co-learning, where farmers’ traditional knowledge and scientific expertise come together in a meaningful process of knowledge construction and exchange.

NEPPAG AYNI aims to promote agroecology within academic spaces by ensuring a holistic education for undergraduate and graduate students, fostering knowledge exchange between urban and rural communities, and integrating research, study, and extension as a means of strengthening the relationship between society and nature. It seeks to engage with agroecological experiences, identify socio-environmental territorial conflicts, and explore alternative models beyond the dominant agricultural paradigm. By valuing both traditional ecological knowledge and scientific research, the initiative encourages a co-learning process that bridges theory, practice, and social movements, fostering collective construction, dialogue of knowledge, and respect for diversity and life.