About FAO News Multimedia Main topics Statistics Members Publications

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.

Territorialized Food Systems
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
Case study
Seeds of the past adapted to the present and future
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
Case study
Lower body burden of pesticides and parallel reduction in biomarkers of oxidative stress/inflammation after an organic diet treatment in children: The ORGANIKO randomized clinical trial results
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
Case study
Agroecology and carbon neutrality in europe by 2050: what are the issues?
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
Case study
Farmers inspiring farmers to save seeds in Kenya
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
Case study
The Good Cocoyam Seed Initiative
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
Case study
Cereal banks improving food security and incomes in Guinea-Bissau
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
Case study
Agroecological alternatives to industrial livestock production
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
Case study
Sustaining the traditional production and conservation of Creole rice seeds in Guinea Bissau
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
Case study
Seed fairs in post-conflict situations
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 study
Grassroots communities produce certifi ed onion seed in Cameroon
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
Case study
Community Approaches to Sustainable Land Management and Agroecology Practices
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
Case study
Farm to systems
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
Case study
GIAHS - Supporting knowledge intensive systems for sustainable food production
Traditional Chiloé island agriculture is a highly integrated and self-sufficient system. It relies on the agrobiodiversity supported by traditional agricultural practices to efficiently use natural resources from the sea, forest...
2018
Case study
Becoming free from chemical inputs
In April 2016, the Basque Country Inter-CSA organisation (IAPB) published an article titled "CSA Farmers: becoming free from chemical products" ('Paysans en AMAP : se libérer de l’utilisation de produits...
2018
Case study
Agroecology and local seeds
SWISSAID y Alianza Semillas de Identidad, conformada por 6 Redes y Movimientos campesinos nacionales, están implementando el modelo Agroecológico con más de 35 000 familias campesinas con énfasis en el...
2018
Case study
Experiences learned on climate change resilient agriculture on food security and the right to food in Latin America and the Caribbean
Adapting agriculture to build resilience to climate change involves a series of actions to identify, test, demonstrate and disseminate good agricultural practices to challenge changing climatic conditions. This study seeks to...
2018
Case study
Initiative of the system of rice intensification
In 2005, we began experimenting with SRI methods at Al-Mishkhab Rice Research Station (MRRS) in Najaf. With SRI practices, roots grow larger and deeper and do not degenerate for lack...
2018
Case study
Agroecology research by agriculture and agri-food
In many regions of Canada, the footprint of agriculture is increasing. This often results in excessive losses of wildlife habitat and biodiversity, increases in GHG emissions and carbon losses, and...
2018
Case study
Agroecology training through permaculture
Permaculture is a holistic approach to agriculture that provides for human needs—high-quality food, fiber, fuel, medicine and building materials—while enhancing the ecosystems and communities from which these derive; it offers...
2018
Case study