Abstract
The soy expansion model in Argentina generates structural changes in traditional lifestyles, which can be associated with different biophysical and socioeconomic impacts. To explore this issue, we apply an innovative method for integrated assessment-the multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism framework-to characterize two communities in the Chaco Region, Province of Formosa, North of Argentina. These communities have recently experienced the expansion of soy production, altering their economic activity, energy consumption patterns, land use and human time allocation. The integrated characterization presented in the paper illustrates the differences (biophysical, socioeconomic and historical) between the two communities that can be associated with different responses. The analysis of the factors behind these differences has important policy implications for the sustainable development of local communities in the area. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 903-924 |
Journal | Environment, development and sustainability |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2014 |
Keywords
- Biophysical accounting
- Chaco
- Land-time budget analysis
- Multi-scale integrated analysis
- Rural development
- Societal metabolism
- Soy expansion