- What Does Justice and Equity Look Like?
What is the why, when, where, and how of justice and equity?
What does this look like in real terms, especially within spaces like Agtech?
Justice in Agtech:
What does justice and equity look like in Agtech?
How do we ensure the technologies and solutions in this space benefit all communities, especially historically marginalized ones?
Social movements often lose steam when mainstreamed or co-opted, especially in political cycles. How can we maintain the core intentions of justice and equity when these movements go “mainstream”?
Example: Land acknowledgements at GOAT should be part of an attempt to set expectations and establish protocols for equity and justice in spaces we occupy.
Sovereignty and Capital:
The role of sovereignty in these spaces: What does it mean to have control or self-determination over resources and decisions that impact a community?
What does the movement look like when it integrates sovereignty from the beginning, not just as an afterthought or “add-on”?
How does capital fit into the equity and justice model—how can financial investments be used to build a more equitable space in Agtech?
- HBCUs and Funding: How Can We Reinvest in These Communities?
Reinvestment in HBCUs:
How do we reinvest in HBCUs to create sustainable impact and growth within Black communities, especially in industries like Agtech?
Focus on community-driven work: How has this work been done before? What are the lessons we can take from those efforts?
The co-optation of terms like “decolonization” and “sovereignty” can dilute the meaning. What does it really look like when we put these terms into practice within HBCUs or other spaces?
- Decolonization: What Does It Look Like?
Decolonizing the Mind:
How do we decolonize not just institutions, but the way we think and act in these spaces? It’s not just about replacing one system with another; it’s about reshaping our mindsets and understanding power dynamics.
Integrating this mindset into a post-colonial society: How can we move beyond colonial thinking and integrate decolonial practices without replicating colonial structures?
Decolonization in Agtech:
What does decolonization look like specifically in Agtech? How do we build a commons (shared resources) without replicating colonial exploitation of land and people?
Book Recommendation: “Grassroots Leviathan”
The concept of self-governance and self-determination as a core tenet of decolonization in Agtech. Can the government’s role be decolonized, or is it inherently slow and disconnected from people’s real needs?
Example: The Brazilian government spraying glyphosate on trees to plant native lands shows how governmental power does not always do things that make sense or align with the best interest of local communities.
Framework for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Folks:
We can’t just “sprinkle in” Indigenous knowledge into the Agtech space. There needs to be a deep integration of Indigenous frameworks and a deconstruction of traditional agenda-building to allow both Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks to create meaningful, inclusive systems.
Example: “Braiding Sweetgrass”—Sky Woman vs. Eve. The significance here is that Sky Woman, who cooperated with the land in a symbiotic relationship, contrasts with Eve’s role in a more antagonistic framework (possibly implying a more colonial mindset). This idea of cooperation with the land can serve as a guiding framework for Agtech, where Agtech is seen as part of the ecosystem, not as something external or exploitative.
- Setting Protocols: Establishing Expectations in Certain Spaces
Expectations of Space:
Land acknowledgements and similar protocols create an ethical framework within spaces like GOAT, where expectations of respect and mutual recognition are part of the conversation.
How can protocols (e.g., land acknowledgements, cultural respect) encourage consent, participation, and fairness in shared spaces?
Protocol in Action:
The role of protocol in leveling the playing field. How do we set these standards early to ensure an equitable experience for all participants? For example, incorporating decolonial protocols like land acknowledgements to center Indigenous communities and their historical connections to the land.
Capital and Accountability:
In spaces that set expectations for social justice, how do we hold capital accountable? What does it mean to ensure that investments are directed toward communities and initiatives that align with these goals?