Agroecology Knowledge Hub

Agroecology in action

Agroecology, as a scientific discipline, applies ecological principles to manage interactions among plants, animals, humans, and the environment, with a primary focus on food security and nutrition. Farmers worldwide are already implementing this approach, deeply rooted in traditional and local wisdom.

FAO acknowledges the pivotal role of farmers in effectively managing both human and natural resources, ultimately leading to improved food security, enhanced nutrition, and bolstered rural development. They serve as perpetual innovators and researchers, driving progress in sustainable agriculture and resilient rural livelihoods.

Explore below how farmers and food provisioners act as stewards of their lands, waters, seeds and natural resources through agroecology -- integrating sophisticated knowledge, innovative techniques, local wisdom and traditional practices. In this section, discover compelling action stories, insightful testimonials from the field, detailed project and practice profiles, enriching experiences, multimedia resources, and more.

Food sovereignty is a vision for democratic control over food and agricultural systems. The Narrative Collective of the United States Food Sovereignty Alliance compiled a series of stories that explore the...
2021
This document presents the concept of the circular economy in the field of agriculture in Indonesia, linking sustainable development, circularity, and the agricultural sector, using innovative case studies. The circular economy...
2020
Mostly associated with fresh fruits, vegetables, and live animals straight from production zones, African mass markets bring together many people, irrespective of class, religion, or socioeconomic backgrounds. As thriving local...
2020
Climate change is challenging the sustainability of agricultural systems. Using the 10 elements of Agroecology as a framework, this working paper explores the extent to which Climate Change, Agriculture and...
2020
European farmers are faced with increasing challenges, including climate change. Agro-ecological practices can help them develop more sustainable and resilient farming systems that combine stable yields with enhanced biodiversity and...
2020
Small-scale farmers, particularly women, face challenges that affect their seed sovereignty such as lack of access to quality seed, the infl ux of fake seeds in the markets, and increasing...
2019
An international research team from the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health, within the Cyprus University of Technology and Emory University published the results of the ORGANIKO randomized...
2019
The processes of agrarian and food transition towards sustainable food systems are constructed by including a territorial perspective. Whether they are called "short circuits" or "territorialized systems", the initiatives that...
2019
In Niger, climate change and economic factors are affecting the living conditions of agricultural producers. Distorted by the promise of better yields, many Nigerien producers have abandoned their farming practices...
2019
The latest IPCC report sets the objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, 2070 at the latest. The sustainable intensification of agricultural production, in a land sparing logic, is most...
2019
Food insecurity and reduced food sovereignty is rampant in Kenya. This can be attributed to a new era of industrial agriculture resulting in genetic erosion of local crops, monoculture, high...
2019
Indigenous cocoyams in Burundi have the potential to increase food and nutrition security and contribute to improved livelihoods, but farmers’ capacity to meet the growing demand for them has been...
2019
As part of its food security and livelihood programs, Action Against Hunger (ACF-USA) has organized seed fairs in rural areas of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to provide...
2019
Case studies compiled recently by Global Forest Coalition (GFC) members and allies in Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Paraguay underline the role of agribusiness in peasant farmers´ and Indigenous Peoples´ lives....
2019
In order to preserve their tradition, the Manjaq communities have embarked on a process of preserving local rice varieties essential for the organization of certain traditional ceremonies. Faced with these...
2019
In Guinea-Bissau, the intensification of cashew monoculture and the decline in yields of rice and other staple cereals is a common issue that puts the population in an unprecedented state...
2019
Sustainable Land Management is quickly becoming one of the largest portfolios of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP. Together with partners, SGP supports community organizations to use...
2019
High-quality onion production begins with high-quality onion seed. Ensuring farmers’ access to quality seed requires the use of research-proven techniques. This project aimed to improve the onion seed system by...
2019
Producing on-farm fertilizers based on local organic residues is an empowering action for family farmers. For this reason, we conducted the project “Development of alternative fertilizers to support the agroecological...
2018
In small and remote villages in South Asia, our rich agricultural crop/breed diversity and associated knowledge is slowly getting wiped out and is being replaced by a handful of `high...
2018