Percepciones de la Comunidad de Villa de Leyva Sobre la Economía Circular como Fundamento para una Agricultura Regenerativa y Sostenible

Abstract

This study looks at the potential of the circular economy as a key driver to promote regenerative and sustainable agriculture in Villa de Leyva. Starting from the territory's inherent challenges—like soil degradation, water scarcity, and the urgent need to improve waste management—the analysis focuses on the unique dynamics of this town, where agriculture and tourism coexist.

The research combines a review of 40 studies with a descriptive survey of 20 residents, selected by convenience. The review highlights practices like the use of biochar, silvopastoral systems, and nutrient recovery. The studies consulted report possible benefits for soil, water efficiency, and the reduction of certain emissions, although their results vary depending on the conditions of each system.

The research shows a community that's mostly in favor of sustainability: 85% strongly agreed that a circular economy helps protect the environment. At the same time, 55% of participants said they don’t have specialized training in sustainability, circular economy, or accounting. This shows a gap between agreeing with these ideas in theory and having the technical knowledge to put them into practice. Also, since the sample is small and not randomly selected, the results reflect the characteristics of those surveyed without guaranteeing they represent the whole municipal population.

The work proposes four lines of action: connecting hotels and restaurants with producers to turn organic waste into compost and biofertilizers; expanding the collection, storage, and reuse of water; creating field schools that combine farmers' knowledge with technical know-how; and using environmental accounting tools to measure consumption, waste, costs, and benefits.