Agrarian Nationalism or “Imperial” Science? “El Sabio” Moisés S. Bertoni and Paraguayan Agricultural Science

As a contribution to recent discourse over the practice of natural science in Latin America’s liberal years, this paper examines Swiss-born botanist Moisés S. Bertoni’s place in Paraguay’s agricultural development following the Paraguayan War (1864-70). The war forced leaders in a devastated Paragua...

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Main Author: Robert Wilcox
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Published: UniEVANGELICA 2020-05-01
Series:Historia Ambiental Latinoamericana y Caribeña
Subjects:
Online Access:https://halacsolcha.org/index.php/halac/article/view/410
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author Robert Wilcox
author_facet Robert Wilcox
author_sort Robert Wilcox
collection DOAJ
description As a contribution to recent discourse over the practice of natural science in Latin America’s liberal years, this paper examines Swiss-born botanist Moisés S. Bertoni’s place in Paraguay’s agricultural development following the Paraguayan War (1864-70). The war forced leaders in a devastated Paraguay to promote the immigration of European scientific experts and farmers, with the expectation that their knowledge of modern agricultural science and practice would revitalize the nation’s agriculture and lift Paraguay out of its poverty. From the late nineteenth century Bertoni’s work and knowledge of Paraguay’s tropical and semi-tropical climate and botany shaped much of Paraguayan agricultural policy and practice. And while his contributions were influential in understanding the nation’s environment and agriculture, what is unclear is how much his approach was the product of deliberate introduction of European agricultural science or the result of autochthonous experience and his own trial and error.
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spelling doaj.art-dc914417536e4bf2a83afb9c04dc4c712022-12-21T21:07:19ZspaUniEVANGELICAHistoria Ambiental Latinoamericana y Caribeña2237-27172020-05-0110210.32991/2237-2717.2020v10i2.p194-222Agrarian Nationalism or “Imperial” Science? “El Sabio” Moisés S. Bertoni and Paraguayan Agricultural ScienceRobert WilcoxAs a contribution to recent discourse over the practice of natural science in Latin America’s liberal years, this paper examines Swiss-born botanist Moisés S. Bertoni’s place in Paraguay’s agricultural development following the Paraguayan War (1864-70). The war forced leaders in a devastated Paraguay to promote the immigration of European scientific experts and farmers, with the expectation that their knowledge of modern agricultural science and practice would revitalize the nation’s agriculture and lift Paraguay out of its poverty. From the late nineteenth century Bertoni’s work and knowledge of Paraguay’s tropical and semi-tropical climate and botany shaped much of Paraguayan agricultural policy and practice. And while his contributions were influential in understanding the nation’s environment and agriculture, what is unclear is how much his approach was the product of deliberate introduction of European agricultural science or the result of autochthonous experience and his own trial and error.https://halacsolcha.org/index.php/halac/article/view/410Agricultural ScienceNatural ScienceParaguayTropical
spellingShingle Robert Wilcox
Agrarian Nationalism or “Imperial” Science? “El Sabio” Moisés S. Bertoni and Paraguayan Agricultural Science
Historia Ambiental Latinoamericana y Caribeña
Agricultural Science
Natural Science
Paraguay
Tropical
title Agrarian Nationalism or “Imperial” Science? “El Sabio” Moisés S. Bertoni and Paraguayan Agricultural Science
title_full Agrarian Nationalism or “Imperial” Science? “El Sabio” Moisés S. Bertoni and Paraguayan Agricultural Science
title_fullStr Agrarian Nationalism or “Imperial” Science? “El Sabio” Moisés S. Bertoni and Paraguayan Agricultural Science
title_full_unstemmed Agrarian Nationalism or “Imperial” Science? “El Sabio” Moisés S. Bertoni and Paraguayan Agricultural Science
title_short Agrarian Nationalism or “Imperial” Science? “El Sabio” Moisés S. Bertoni and Paraguayan Agricultural Science
title_sort agrarian nationalism or imperial science el sabio moises s bertoni and paraguayan agricultural science
topic Agricultural Science
Natural Science
Paraguay
Tropical
url https://halacsolcha.org/index.php/halac/article/view/410
work_keys_str_mv AT robertwilcox agrariannationalismorimperialscienceelsabiomoisessbertoniandparaguayanagriculturalscience