What models of justice for the agroecological transition? The normative backdrops of the transition

The chapter proposes to reflect on the axiological and normative foundations of the agroecological transition. Our approach to the agroecological transition is both open-ended and non-relativist. It consists of accepting the relative indeterminate nature of transition processes, all while promoting the existence of normative supports necessary for action.

In our approach, these supports must allow actors to overcome the conflicts of values that can be present in their profession, without renouncing their deeper motivations for a just transition. Namely - and for the authors this consideration is essential - these supports are plural. We have identified three: ethics of compromise, ethics of capabilities, ethics of recognition: in each instance, different possibilities come to light, which have meaning solely in relation to the dilemmas encountered, the contexts of action, or the role that is played by the researcher-actor relationship throughout the process.

We draw upon this approach to comparatively analyze three case studies: the practices of purchase-resale in the sale of agroecological vegetables in the Walloon Region of Belgium (Antoinette M. Dumont), an action-research with an organisation bringing together sheep farmers and veterinarians in the Millavois area of France (Camille Lacombe), and the management of global plant health by a network of artisanal vegetable seed producers (Stephanie Klaedtke).

Each of these cases spurs the emergence of a normative support model that is available to actors for overcoming the dilemmas with which they are confronted. We show that the research process plays a pivotal role in the stabilisation of these different supports and the realisation of their transformative potential. We conclude on the contribution of this normative plurality towards an agroecological justice.