CIVICALLY ENGAGED TRIPLE HELIX AND AGROECOLOGY: SOCIOTECHNICAL INNOVATION, COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS, AND TERRITORIAL RESILIENCE

Abstract

With the aim of analyzing the interconnections between the Civically Engaged Triple Helix and agroecology, this article examines how sociotechnical innovation processes, structured through territorial collaborative networks, contribute to the construction of resilient agrifood systems. Grounded in the theoretical framework of the Triple Helix and its civically engaged variation, in dialogue with agroecology, ecosocioeconomics, and the Latin American debate on Buen Vivir, the study adopts a qualitative, theoretical-analytical approach based on an integrative literature review. The analysis demonstrates that the active participation of civil society, articulated with universities and public institutions, constitutes a central element for knowledge co-production, the adoption of territorially appropriate technologies, and the strengthening of sociotechnical arrangements oriented toward sustainability. Innovation is understood beyond its technological dimension, assuming a sociotechnical character by incorporating local knowledge, agroecological practices, collaborative governance, and territorial rationalities. The findings indicate that territorially embedded collaborative networks enhance the adaptive capacity of rural communities, strengthen productive autonomy, and promote resilience in the face of contemporary socio-environmental vulnerabilities. It is concluded that the articulation between the Civically Engaged Triple Helix and agroecology provides a consistent analytical framework for understanding processes of sustainable territorial development grounded in socio-environmental justice, food sovereignty, and the valorization of local knowledge and practices.