Agroecology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

A community-supported agriculture share of vegetables.

This article's lead section may not adequately summarize its

contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an
accessible overview of the article's key points. (December 2010)

Agroecology is the application of ecological principles to the production of food,

fuel, fiber, and pharmaceuticals. The term encompasses a broad range of approaches,
and is considered "a science, a movement, [and] a practice."[1]

The prefix agro- refers to agriculture.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Ecological strategy
• 2 Various approaches
o 2.1 Ecosystems agroecology
o 2.2 Agronomic ecology
o 2.3 Ecological political economy
o 2.4 Agro-population ecology
o 2.5 Integrated assessment of multifunctional agricultural
systems
o 2.6 Holon agroecology
• 3 History
o 3.1 Pre-WWII
o 3.2 Post-WWII
o 3.3 Fusion with ecology
• 4 Publications
• 5 Applications
o 5.1 Views on organic and non-organic milk production
o 5.2 Views on no-till farming
• 6 By region
o 6.1 Latin America
o 6.2 Madagascar
• 7 See also
• 8 References
• 9 Further reading

• 10 External links

[edit] Ecological strategy

Agroecologists study a variety of agroecosystems, and the field of agroecology is not

associated with any one particular method of farming, whether it be organic,
conventional, intensive or extensive. Furthermore, it is not defined by certain
management practices, such as the use of natural enemies in place of insecticides, or
polyculture in place of monoculture.

Additionally, agroecologists do not unanimously oppose technology or inputs in

agriculture but instead assess how, when, and if technology can be used in
conjunction with natural, social and human assets.[2] Agroecology proposes a context-
or site-specific manner of studying agroecosystems, and as such, it recognizes that
there is no universal formula or recipe for the success and maximum well-being of an
agroecosystem.
Instead, agroecologists may study questions related to the four system properties of
agroecosystems: productivity, stability, sustainability and equitability.[3] As opposed
to disciplines that are concerned with only one or some of these properties,
agroecologists see all four properties as interconnected and integral to the success of
an agroecosystem. Recognizing that these properties are found on varying spatial
scales, agroecologists do not limit themselves to the study of agroecosystems at any
one scale: farm, community, or global.

Agroecologists study these four properties through an interdisciplinary lens, using

natural sciences to understand elements of agroecosystems such as soil properties and
plant-insect interactions, as well as using social sciences to understand the effects of
farming practices on rural communities, economic constraints to developing new
production methods, or cultural factors determining farming practices

Agroecology in Latin America

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Because of the ideological differences between industrial or mechanized agriculture

and agroecology, its application has thus far been relatively limited in the U.S. (the
country where industrial agriculture has been advanced the furthest). Latin America's
experiences with North American Green Revolution, agricultural techniques have
opened space for agroecologists. Some countries where agroecological research and
practice have flourished include Costa Rica, Cuba and Brazil.

Traditional or indigenous knowledge represents a wealth of possibility for

agroecologists [1]. The relationship between agronomists and traditional (often
subsistence farmers) practitioners has been termed an "exchange of wisdoms." This
recognizes that Western science has some solutions and innovations to offer, while
local knowledge systems developed over thousands of years have just as much, if not
more, to offer. This becomes more evident still when the importance and uniqueness
of local ecologies are understood as underpinning agricultural systems.