Have you heard of agroecology? This is a holistic agricultural production system that is similar to organic methods, but yet not exactly the same. The Christensen Fund has made a great infographic that compares and contrasts the agroecological with the conventional system from sky to soil:
As this handy policy brief explains, “based on a myriad of scientific research and satellite cases worldwide, there is a general consensus and growing support among experts around the world that an agricultural model based on agroecology can provide a sustainable, socially inclusive,productive and efficient way forward to increase food security and alleviate rural poverty.“
What I particularly like about agroecology is that it’s knowledge-based. The entire idea is to improve smallholder farmers’ productivity by teaching them how to best act in line with nature and their land. Thus, it’s the exact opposite of industrial intensification which requires large amounts of expensive and oftentimes environmentally damaging inputs. Instead, the agroecology movement counts on knowledge dissemination on how to use and recycle the nutrients and energy of the ecosystem in complementary and diversified ways to create a biodiverse, resilient, fertile environment. An evaluation of 286 such training programs has shown that on average, they can bring about yield increases of 79 percent without making the farmer economically dependent on external inputs.
Furthermore, the knowledge dissemination is not intended to be top-down, but to happen in farmer-to-farmer networks. This approach respects and recognizes the local understanding and works with it, rather than dismissing smallholder farmers as inefficient per se. Again, according to the policy brief, “using the knowledge and expertise of those most familiar with the ecosystem and its weather patterns, local farmers use a diversity of complex management schemes and adaptation techniques to strengthen ecosystem resilience and minimise dependence on agro-chemical and energy inputs.“
The brief then goes on to talk about two case studies in Brazil and Cuba, where agroecology has been relatively successful already (around 100,000 Brazilian family farms have adopted such techniques so far). Brazil in particular is a good example on how participatory knowledge dissemination can work in practice:
Especially considering it’s the FAO Year of Family Farming, I feel there should be way more attention drawn to agroecology. Even the UN Rapporteur for the Right to Food, Olivier de Schutter, says that it’s probably the way to farming in the future. His website is also a great resource for topics spanning from food commodity speculation to agroecology, so make sure to check it out as well!
Did you know of agroecology?
I didn’t know about agroecology but it’s so interesting! It makes sense, instead of making everything mechanised and artificial… I really love these info graphics!
” http://politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org/2014/02/agroecology-organizing-principle/#comment-11479
That is a great, great post and discussion to read, thanks so much for the link! I will make sure to check out the articles referred to as well; I think the topic is fascinating and is particularly relevant when thinking about the question what kinds of agricultural systems NGOs and institutions should really support.
(not to toot my own horn… a lot of other people’s work is linked in my comment, and Kripke’s post is owrth reading)
Hi Janina.
Great post, I just discovered this blog through twitter today. Indeed you have a very neat and insightful blog. I am yet to make the move to blogging during my PhD, it is indeed a very good exercise!
your thoughts on agroecology resonate with me. I’ve studied it quite a bit in undergraduate and then through spending time with smallholders in South Korea, Venezuela and Philippines. I’ve seen many positive stories, but many more challenges for scaling up and uptake. Access to knowledge and political barriers seem to be large players in preventing agroecological development.
I write this from the Philippines where I am conducting my PhD work on the pressures of development place on smallholder farmers, and the implications of these pressures for food sovereignty and food security.
I am based at the Australian National University – indeed not many people there doing food sovereignty work, so great to meet you in the WebSphere!
I have followed you on twitter :). Thanks again for the great post.
Hi Federico, so nice to meet you too! Your PhD work sounds fascinating – do share insights and results in the future, I would love to learn more about the whole smallholder-development nexus. It’s also great that you are conducting field work – I find that a lot of times these kinds of discussions are held at a very theoretical or general level and practical insights are direly needed. Good luck with you PhD, and I hope you continue commenting in the future!
Great work and good luck in getting the word out further. I am not sure if the term ‘Agro-ecology’ is broadly used, I know these concepts largely under the names of “Holistic Ag” or “Regenerative / Restoration Ag”. I have been interested in this for a long time and starting to work on starting a small venture based on the concept.
I am collection all my resources here: https://plus.google.com/communities/115811096109596066349 and would be grateful for others to join the conversation. I will add a link to this blog.
G’day, Leo
Thanks Leo, I’ll make sure to check out your site as well!