Agro-ecology is defined as applying ecological principles to agriculture and food systems. It originated as a scientific concept but has expanded to include social and political dimensions. Agro-ecology aims to question dominant industrial agricultural models and globalized markets by promoting more sustainable practices. These include recycling biomass and nutrients, improving soils, reducing external inputs, optimizing biodiversity and interactions between ecosystem elements, integrating food production and environmental protection, and acknowledging both traditional and scientific knowledge. The principles of agro-ecology also emphasize participatory research, autonomy, and food sovereignty.
Managing agricultural landscapes for ecosystem services, resilience and human...SIANI
Presented by Cibele Queiroz during the seminar How to Feed Nine Billion within the Planet’s Boundaries - Agroecology for Food Security & Nutrition organised by the SIANI Expert group on Agriculture Transformation. Read more here: http://www.siani.se/expert-groups/agriculture-transformation-low-income-countries-under-environmental-change
Managing agricultural landscapes for ecosystem services, resilience and human...SIANI
Presented by Cibele Queiroz during the seminar How to Feed Nine Billion within the Planet’s Boundaries - Agroecology for Food Security & Nutrition organised by the SIANI Expert group on Agriculture Transformation. Read more here: http://www.siani.se/expert-groups/agriculture-transformation-low-income-countries-under-environmental-change
Sustainable agriculture and its effectiveness - Capstone research project MatthewBelanger10
This research paper was for the Environmental Studies 400 capstone class at Central Michigan University. In this paper, I strive to understand why industrial agriculture is so unsustainable, what is being done to reach a more sustainable system, and whether or not these strives in sustainability are effective. This research project allowed me to develop my interest in the agriculture industry and learn more about this field. Coupled with a presentation to faculty members and students of the Environmental Studies program, this project allowed me to practice my research and communication skills through a topic that deeply interested me.
One of the challenges of ecological intensification is to move agricultural research out of a focus on singular focal areas – e.g., improved seed, pest control, water management –
to solutions that integrate all components of the farming system. As such, the canon of knowledge supporting ecological intensification is transdisciplinary, focusing on the biological components of farming systems and agroecological practices but extending as well to considerations of policy and farmer and societal benefits. As the biodiversity benefits of ecological intensification, along with the negative externalities of conventional agriculture are an important motivation for ecological intensification, we have included literature on these topic, as well as references that relate climate change to ecosystem services in agriculture.
The glossary presented here is compiled on this basis, to provide definitions of key terms relevant to ecological intensification.
Food and Climate Change presentation by Jessica Paddock at the BSA Climate Change Study Group Conference on 17 January 2011 at the British Library Conference Centre, London, UK.
Development of ecological economics (constanza, 1997)Introsust
Leyendo el texto completo, responda:
1) ¿Cuál es el problema central abordado por la economía ecológica?
2) ¿Por qué una característica distintiva de la economía ecológica tiene que ver con cómo la valoración de funciones y procesos ecológicos es reflejada en la estructura de los modelos?
Puede responder en inglés o español.
Sustainable agriculture and its effectiveness - Capstone research project MatthewBelanger10
This research paper was for the Environmental Studies 400 capstone class at Central Michigan University. In this paper, I strive to understand why industrial agriculture is so unsustainable, what is being done to reach a more sustainable system, and whether or not these strives in sustainability are effective. This research project allowed me to develop my interest in the agriculture industry and learn more about this field. Coupled with a presentation to faculty members and students of the Environmental Studies program, this project allowed me to practice my research and communication skills through a topic that deeply interested me.
One of the challenges of ecological intensification is to move agricultural research out of a focus on singular focal areas – e.g., improved seed, pest control, water management –
to solutions that integrate all components of the farming system. As such, the canon of knowledge supporting ecological intensification is transdisciplinary, focusing on the biological components of farming systems and agroecological practices but extending as well to considerations of policy and farmer and societal benefits. As the biodiversity benefits of ecological intensification, along with the negative externalities of conventional agriculture are an important motivation for ecological intensification, we have included literature on these topic, as well as references that relate climate change to ecosystem services in agriculture.
The glossary presented here is compiled on this basis, to provide definitions of key terms relevant to ecological intensification.
Food and Climate Change presentation by Jessica Paddock at the BSA Climate Change Study Group Conference on 17 January 2011 at the British Library Conference Centre, London, UK.
Development of ecological economics (constanza, 1997)Introsust
Leyendo el texto completo, responda:
1) ¿Cuál es el problema central abordado por la economía ecológica?
2) ¿Por qué una característica distintiva de la economía ecológica tiene que ver con cómo la valoración de funciones y procesos ecológicos es reflejada en la estructura de los modelos?
Puede responder en inglés o español.
Agroecological Transformations: Background and RationaleICCASA
Presented by Martin Oulu, Ph.D at the ISFAA SENSITIZATION WORKSHOP ON AGROECOLOGY AND AGROBIODIVERSITY INTEGRATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN KENYA.
Diversity in Food Systems: The Case of Stockfree Organic
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For more information, Please see websites below:
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Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214
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Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079
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Free School Gardening Art Posters
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159`
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Companion Planting Increases Food Production from School Gardens
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159
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Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110
Climate change and variability and extreme events adaptation: what are the ch...ILRI
A presentation prepared by John Ingram for the workshop on Dealing with Drivers of Rapid Change in Africa: Integration of Lessons from Long-term Research on INRM, ILRI, Nairobi, June 12-13, 2008.
Running head FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE 1 FOOD SECUR.docxjeanettehully
Running head: FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE 1
FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE 6
How To Achieve Food Security In The Face Of Climate Change
The state of food security in the world right now is wanting, and the rate at which the globe is experiencing climate change is inexplicable. According to a research carried out by the World Food Program and the World Health Organization, the number of chronically malnourished people in the world is estimated to have increased drastically in the year 2016 to 815 million from 777 million in 2015. However, over the last few years, progress has been made; the number of malnourished people in the year 2000 was approximately 900 million. Nevertheless, ensuring food security has become an issue in our communities due to the many changes experienced daily. Subsistence farmers, in particular, are experiencing a lot of constraints, such as unfavorable bio-physical conditions and limited arable land (Rasul et al., 2014). Furthermore, the consequent reduced agricultural production has affected food security and changed the overall vulnerability of many people around the world (Hussain et al., 2016). They have become more dependent on genetically modified foods which can be bad for their health at times. Now, there exist ways in which people can achieve food security in the face of climate change. According to a commission of agriculture formed in the year 2000 to investigate the issue of food security and climate change, several strategies and approaches can be put in place to improve on the food situation across the world. I believe these methods would best help achieve food security in the face of climate change.
The Commission suggested that world leaders should integrate sustainable agriculture and food security into national and global policies (Beddington et al., 2012). One way in which this can be done is for governments to make sustainable climate-friendly agriculture central to green growth. According to research, governments should support financial commitments for regional programs to improve food systems and agriculture. This strategy should include specific research on alternative agricultural practices and an enhanced capacity to speed up transitions between establishment phases and the study.
Similarly, governments should find a way to finance strategies that support viable agricultural production systems that are not prone to damage during weather changes. In other words, they can develop mitigation and adaptation strategies and implement agrarian programs. Also, governments can include researchers who can come up with ways in which agricultural sectors can benefit from sustainable farming practices. Global donors can also play a key role. They can identify finance mechanisms that can be used to sustain various systems and interventions that build on the enormous potential synergies between climate change and agriculture. In simple terms, when world leaders prioritize food security as a re ...
Metrics and sustainable diets was the focus of a presentation by Thomas Allen of Bioversity International delivered at the Joint Conference on Sustainable Diet and Food Security co-organized by the Belgian Nutrition Society, The Nutrition Society and Société Française de Nutrition on 28 and 29 May 2013 in Lille, France under the auspices of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies, a conference on Sustainable Diet and Food Security. : A system approach to assessing Sustainable Diets. Read more about Bioversity International’s work on diet diversity for nutrition and health
http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/diet-diversity/
Integration of Agroecology and Agrobiodiversity in Agricultural Education Cur...ICCASA
Presented by Dr. Robert Mbeche, at the ISFAA SENSITIZATION WORKSHOP ON AGROECOLOGY AND AGROBIODIVERSITY INTEGRATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN KENYA.
article 3 o i i r j . o r g- 3 An Analysis of Socio.pdfEducational
Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Issue-04, July-Aug 2018 Issue
w w w . o i i r j . o r g I S S N 2 2 4 9 - 9 5 9 8 Page 358
An Analysis of Socio Economic Background of Organic Farmers: A Study with
Special References to Mandya District
aUma .K,
Article 3 An Analysis of Socio Economic Background of Organic Farmers A Study...Dr UMA K
Reference: Dr. Uma. K (2018) “An Analysis of Socio-Economic Background of Organic Farmers: A Study with Special References to Mandya District”, Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, (OIIRJ), {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Issue-04, Page No 358-368.
1.
What is agro‐ecology ?
Based on the position paper ‘L’agroécologie : trajectoire et potentiel. Pour une transition vers des
systèmes alimentaires durables’ by Stassart et al. (2012)1
1. Definition
Agro‐ecology is a concept that inspires more and more people, but also means different things to
different people. There is no single way to define or practise agro‐ecology, but the concept unifies
different groups of scientists, practitioners in the food system, and social movements.
Originally, Altieri (1983)2 defined agro‐ecology as the application of ecological principles to
agriculture. Twenty years later, agro‐ecology was enlarged to the whole food system linking
production with the food chain and consumers. This new definition allowed to also analyse the
socio‐economic and political dimensions of food systems. Agro‐ecology became an interdisciplinary
method that questioned scientific and social borders. Finally, agro‐ecological research needed to
take into account the relation between science and society. Associations, citizens, consumers,
practitioners... can accept, but also refuse to take up new methods and technology. These social
actors may suggest new or transform existing research questions, modify the methodology, and
contribute with local or traditional know‐how. This insight made Wezel et al. (2009)3 conclude that
agro‐ecology means either a scientific discipline, agricultural practice, or political or social
movement. Agro‐ecology has become a concept of action that includes all these three dimensions.
As a scientific discipline, agro‐ecology questions the dominant agronomic model based on the
intensive use of external inputs. It questions as well the dominant ecological model that separates
the protection of biodiversity from the production of food. As such, it proposes an additional new
role for farmers as stewards of the landscape and biodiversity. As a social movement, agro‐ecology
criticises the effects of the industrialisation of the agricultures in the world, and the globalised
market economy that is decoupled from productive and ecological constraints. As an alternative, this
social movement explores other ways of agriculture, based on autonomy and the prudent use of
resources.
1
Stassart, P., M., P. Baret, V., J.‐C. Grégoire, T. Hance, M. Mormont, D. Reheul, G. Vanloqueren, and
M. Visser. 2012. Trajectoire et potentiel de l'agroécologie, pour une transition vers des systèmes
alimentaires durables (available on http://hdl.handle.net/2268/130063 ). Pages 25‐51 in D. Vandam,
M. Streith, J. Nizet, and P. Stassart, M., editors. Agroécologie, entre pratiques et sciences sociales.
Educagri, Dijon
2
Altieri AM (1983) Agroecology, the Scientific Basis for Alternative Agriculture. Berkeley, U.C. Berkeley.
3
Wezel A, Bellon S, Doré T, Francis C, Vallod D, David C (2009) Agroecology as a science, a movement and a
practice. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 29, 503‐515.
2. 2. Principles
As the definition of agro‐ecology is rather wide, a better understanding of the concept can be
obtained by exploring the principles that guide researchers, practitioners and social actors active in
the field of agro‐ecology. The following list proposes such a set of principles, however not to be
understood as a closed framework.
Recycle biomass, optimise and close nutrient cycles.
Improve soil conditions. This means in particular improving organic matter content and
biological activity of the soil.
Reduce dependence on external, synthetic inputs.
Minimise resource losses (solar radiation, soil, water, air) by managing the micro‐climate,
increasing soil cover, water harvesting...
Promote and conserve the genetic diversity of crops and animals.
Enhance positive interactions between the different elements of agro‐ecosystems, by
(re‐)connecting crop and animal production, designing agro‐forestry systems, using push‐
and‐pull strategies for pest control...
Integrate protection of biodiversity with production of food.
Integrate short‐term and long‐term considerations in decision‐making. Aim at optimal yields
rather than maximum yields. Value resilience and adaptability.
Contribute to the transition towards sustainable agriculture and food systems. Identify lock‐
ins that impede this transition and propose pathways to unlock them. Propose new
governance structures that support innovative niches of sustainability.
Acknowledge the similarities and linkages between agricultural systems in the global North
and South. The North can learn from agro‐ecological experiences in the South and vice
versa. Because of the increasing globalisation, the transition towards sustainable food
systems asks for integrated and simultaneous solutions in North and South.
Investigate existing power relations, decision‐making processes and opportunities for
participation in food systems. Investigate the role of citizens and consumers in food systems.
Valorise the diversity of knowledge (local / traditional know‐how and practices, common
knowledge and expert knowledge) in the definition of research problems, the definition of
people concerned, and in finding solutions.
Promote participatory research driven by the needs of society and practitioners, while at the
same time guaranteeing scientific rigor.
Develop knowledge and innovation systems that conserve and allow exchange of agro‐
ecological knowledge. Special attention should be paid to local knowledge, which is a scarce
resource in itself and due to its specificity is difficult to disseminate.
These principles should also be reflected in new methods of agricultural education and training.
Finally they should result in more autonomy for all actors in the food chain and in food sovereignty,
the right of peoples to democratically define their own food and agricultural systems without
harming other people or the environment.