Agroecological systems for food security, climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity conservation

In the 1950s and 60s the world saw an explosion of new farming technologies. This green revolution increased crop yield and promised as prosperity but it also polluted soils and water, marginalized small-scale farmers and erased traditional crops and diets as agricultural landscapes have become more and more uniform, wildlife habitats have been lost creating the perfect conditions for dangerous diseases to spill over into human populations.

The future of farming could be converging around a simple but powerful concept: agroecology. Agroecology is a way of farming with nature not against it. It builds resilience to climate change, in disease outbreaks by combining different plants and animals based on farmers’ knowledge of their local environments. Agroecology doesn't rely on chemicals to fertilize crops and fight pests. It relies on diversity. And diversity in the field means fresh and nutritious foods for communities. It provides secure livelihoods based on cooperation solidarity and short supply chains that retain value in the community.

Resources:

• Agroecological systems for food security, climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity conservation / Systèmes agroécologiques pour la sécurité alimentaire, l'atténuation et l'adaptation au climat et la conservation de la biodiversité - Emile FRISON, IPES Food

Video:

• Agroecology: the next evolution in food systems - IPES Food