Agroecology overview

Introduction to agroecology

• Our so called modern agriculture

has replaced natural plant
communities with artificially
supported crop communities.
• Humans have manipulated and
altered the natural ecosystem for
the purpose of establishing
modern agricultural production .
Introduction to agroecology

• The now modern agroecosystems are

highly simplified systems, to the point
that they are structurally and
functionally very different from natural
ecosystems.
• The more intensely such communities
are simplified, the more frequent and
serious ecological unbalances are
generated
Introduction to agroecology…

• Over reliance on homogeneous

monoculture production systems is no
longer socially, economically and
ecologically desirable
• These systems compromise
biodiversity, utilise resources
inefficiently, highly energy dependent,
impose a major ecological footprint,
are susceptible to pest outbreaks and
are also vulnerable to climatic
variability
Today’s global
challenges
Why do we need
Permaculture?
 Despite these
challenges agriculture
still has
continue…………
Main Approaches to Agriculture

1.Business as Usual
2.Sustainable Intensification
3.Transformative Agriculture
Business as Sustainable Transformative
usual intensification
Conventional agriculture Conservation Agriculture Agro-ecology

Industrial agriculture Minimum tillage Permaculture

Factory farming Climate Smart Agriculture Organic agriculture

Climate Resilient
Agriculture

Community Supported
Agriculture
 1.Conventional/Industrial
farming
• A farming system that uses and heavily depends on
artificial inputs
Characterised by:
-High biodiversity loss
- Simplification of production system
- Genetic erosion
- Loss of soil macro and
microbiology
- High emissions of Methane
- Low Animal welfare less freedom
- High fossil fuel energy cost
Conventional/Industrial
farming
• High external inputs
• Monocultures
• Highly mechanised
• Specialisation for large-scale
markets
• Production only
• Profit oriented
Conventional/Industrial
farming……
• Negatively impacting public health
• Compromises the ecosystem integrity
• Poor food quality
• Disadvantages traditional rural livelihoods,
and indigenous and local cultures
• Accelerating of indebtedness among millions
of farmers
• Increase of hunger, landlessness,
homelessness, despair and suicides among
farmers.
2.Sustainable intensification
farming
• Sustainable intensification agriculture
is the production of food and fiber using
a system that increases the inherent
productive capacity of natural and
biological resources in step with
demand.
• At the same time, it allow farmers to
earn adequate profits, provide
consumers with wholesome, safe food,
and minimize adverse impacts on the
environment.
Sustainable Intensification
Agri
• Mix of business as usual with
enviro-friendly practices.
• Reduced external inputs - maybe.
• Crop rotations-maybe.
• Remains capital intensive.
• Production intensification.
• Very few species, breeds and
varieties.
Transformative agriculture
• The application of ecological
concepts and principles to the design
and management of sustainable
farming systems
• Ecological processes applied to
farming systems (crop and livestock)
for sustainability
• Agro-ecology is a holistic productive
agricultural system which is in
harmony with nature (environmental
and human elements)
 3.Transformative Agriculture
• Scientific Ecological principles
• Low external inputs
• Whole landscape approach
• Crop rotations and poly cropping
• Local knowledge and knowledge
intensive
• People-centred technology and food
systems
• Production with resource stewardship
• Multiple varieties and breeds of
multiple species.
The holistic approach

It’s of working with, rather than

against nature; of expanded and
thoughtful observation rather than
expanded and thoughtless action; of
looking at systems in all their
functions, rather than asking only one
yield of them: and allowing systems to
demonstrate their own evolution,,
while they remain productive
Business as usual Sustainable Transformative
Intensification

Adapted from O’ Brien, M. 2012. Trocaire.

Conclusion on agroecology

• Its high time we urgently start

applying alternatives to address the
current and future challenges facing
our food systems.
• Agroecology could be a system with
promising options capable of providing
solutions by enhancing food security
and nutrition, restoring and
maintaining healthy
Conclusion on agroecology…

• Through policy support, countries

have a key role to play in
establishing an enabling
environment for agroecology
Global positions on Agroecology

• To scale up the positive impacts of

agroecology FAO will continue to support a
framework for international dialogue on
agroecology at the regional and national
levels.
• It will be important to continue to
strengthen the evidence base in support of
agroecology.
• Countries, intergovernmental organizations
and other stakeholders should support
existing networks for agroecology.