Diving into Agroecology: background information

The three facets of agroecology

Agroecology is:

1. A scientific research approach involving the holistic study of agro-ecosystems and food systems,

2. A set of principles and practices that enhances the resilience and sustainability of food and farming systems while preserving social integrity,

3. A socio-political movement, which focuses on the practical application of agroecology, seeks new ways of considering agriculture, processing, distribution and consumption of food, and its relationships with society and nature.

The interdependence of agroecology and food sovereignty

“There is no food sovereignty without agroecology. And certainly, agroecology will not last without a food sovereignty policy that backs it up”. Ibrahima Coulibaly

We wish to build on the perspectives developed by social movements actively involved in shaping and defining food systems. We also recognize and respect the work that has been done so far to clarify and develop the concept of agroecology and consider it as laying the foundations of this work.

The Nyéléni Declaration defines agroecology as a people-led movement and practice that needs to be supported, rather than led, by science and policy. We understand this as an urgent call for the expertise of food producers and those working in community food to be recognized and put at the centre of policymaking and food systems governance. It also calls for the right of people “to control food policy and practice”. From this perspective, agroecology is, indeed, inseparable from food sovereignty.

Principles: definition and characteristics

Principles are a set of broad guidelines that constitute the building blocks of agroecology, its practice and implementation. They build on the following characteristics:

  • Agroecology promotes principles rather than rules or recipes of a transition process,
  • Agroecology is the result of the joint application of its principles and their underlying values to the design of alternative farming and food systems. It is therefore acknowledged that the application of the principles will be done progressively,
  • The principles apply across locations and lead to different practices being used in different places and contexts,
  • All principles should be interpreted in the context of improving integration with the natural world, and justice and dignity for humans, non-humans and processes.

CIDSE views on food sovereignty: “Food sovereignty is a policy framework which addresses the root problems of hunger and poverty by refocusing the control of food production and consumption within democratic processes rooted in localised food systems. It embraces not only the control of production and markets, but also people’s access to and control over land, water and genetic resources. It assumes the recognition and empowerment of people and communities to realise their economic, social, cultural, and political rights and needs regarding food choices, access and production. It is defined as: “The right of peoples to define their own food and agriculture; to protect and regulate domestic agricultural production and trade in order to achieve sustainable development objectives; to determine the extent to which they want to be self reliant; to restrict the dumping of products in their markets. Food sovereignty does not negate trade, but rather it promotes the formulation of trade policies and practices that serve the rights of peoples to food and to safe, healthy and ecologically sustainable production”. “Food Sovereignty: Towards democracy in localised food systems” by Michael Windfuhr and Jennie Jonsén, FIAN-International (2005). CIDSE, EAA (2013). “Whose Alliance? The G8 and the Emergence of a Global Corporate Regime for Agriculture, CIDSE and EAA Recommendations”, p.7.