Agroproductive Monitoring to Rebuild Food Systems and Strengthen One Health Outcomes in a Post-Disaster Resettlement Context in Brazil

Abstract

Following the collapse of the Fundão mining tailings dam in Brazil, rural families were forcibly resettled and required to reconstruct their food systems, livelihoods and socio-ecological relationships. This case study presents an Agroproductive Monitoring Programme implemented between 2024 and 2026 in two resettled districts in the Rio Doce basin. The initiative involved 65 resettled family farming households whose livelihoods had historically depended on diversified small-scale agriculture, supported through more than 750 participatory agroproductive technical assistance visits grounded in agroecology and One Health principles. Rather than isolated interventions, the programme adopted continuous agroproductive monitoring focused on soil management, crop diversification, integrated pest management using social technologies, promotion of medicinal plants and non-conventional food plants (PANCs), creole seeds, and small-scale poultry production. Quantitative indicators demonstrated substantial improvements, including a 90% adoption rate of agroecological social technologies, increased garden area and crop diversity, higher poultry productivity, reduced pest incidence, and expanded use of organic fertilizers. Beyond agronomic outcomes, the programme strengthened food autonomy, reduced exposure to pesticide-contaminated foods, and reinforced social cohesion and traditional knowledge. This case illustrates how integrated agroecological monitoring can generate measurable plant, environmental and human health benefits in post-disaster resettlement contexts, demonstrating the incremental value of a One Health approach.