Page 16 - Environmental_Ecology

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Chapter 3

Agroecology and Quality Food

3.1 Agroecology between science and movement

Agroecology is a concept in which science, practice and movement are equally important and where there
is a constant exchange between the three pillars.

Science: it privileges active research, holistic and participatory approaches, transdisciplinarity that includes
different knowledge systems.

Practice: it is based on the sustainable use of local renewable resources, on the knowledge and priorities of
local farmers, on the wise use of biodiversity to provide services and resilience to ecosystems and solutions
that offer multiple benefits (environmental, economic, social) from local to global.

Movement: defends smallholder farmers and family farming, rural communities, food sovereignty, local
and short food supply chains, diversity of seeds and indigenous breeds, health and food quality. 1

Agroecology uses the disciplines of modern agricultural science, but its approach is also influenced by
indigenous knowledge systems on land, plants, etc. that have nurtured traditional agricultural systems for
millennia. Agroecology focuses heavily on soil and regeneration methods, which again helps soil fertility
and the creation of healthy soil. Agroecology does not promote individual technical recipes but rather
principles, it is process-based agriculture. In addition to science and practice, agroecology also refers to
a wide variety of social movements aimed at environmental protection, the development of sustainable
agricultural systems and food sovereignty.

1 https://www.agroecology-europe.org/our-approach/our-understanding-of-agroecology/