The UA Magazine tries to provide insight into the questions: “What is ‘urban agroecology’,exactly? Is it a type of ecological or organic agriculture in the city or if not, what else or what more?”. As we will see from the contributions in this Magazine, definitions differ and tend to reflect the various ways the term agroecology is understood in different countries, by different organisations, or according to different political economic preferences.

Often agroecology is perceived as more than a production technique or system: it is a movement, a science, a political vision and a practice which alongside agricultural knowledge, endorses specific values and ethics, such as social relations of mutuality and respect, a commitment to bring forward more equitable change and land stewardship. Underthisperspective‘urbanagroecology’,is apracticewhich – while it could be similar to many ‘urban agricultural’ initiatives born out of the desire to re-build community ties and sustainable food systems, has gone a step further: it has clearly position edit self in ecological, social and political terms.

The magazing explores alternative ways of conceptualising urban agroecology, practices and city initiatives related to urban agroecology, urban policies supporting Agroecology and the contributions focused on citizen and social movement-led initiatives