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.

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
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
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
Agronomic practices and management decisions can have a significant impact on the type and number of weeds on a farm. Understanding this relationship can help organic producers manage weeds through...
2018
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
Agronomic practices and management decisions can have a significant impact on the type and number of weeds on a farm. Understanding this relationship can help organic producers manage weeds through...
2018
The “dynamic agroforestry” method (DAF) is an innovative progression of agricultural cultivation combined with agroforestry. The method is based on the knowledge of the indigenous peoples of Latin America structured...
2018
Les agriculteurs-trices des zones rurales de montagne au Maroc sont confrontés à de nombreux défis parmi lesquels la pauvreté, la dureté des conditions de vie et la dégradation de l’environnement...
2018
Schola Campesina is a training and participatory research centre seeking to strengthen producers’ organizations in their struggle for food sovereignty through knowledge valorization and sharing. Based on the Nyéléni International...
2018
La agroecología no solamente es una ciencia o una técnica, es un modo de vida, en donde debemos poner la sostenibilidad de la vida en el centro. Para ello es...
2018
Terre et Paix is an EU funded project which has been implemented since February 2015 by the Italian NGO COSPE in partnership with the three national farmers’ platforms of Senegal,...
2018
Jointly addressing the challenges of ensuring sustainable food for Europeans, protecting biodiversity and natural resources, and mitigating climate change calls for a profound transition in our agri-food system. An agro-ecological project...
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
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
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
The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme, launched as an initiative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2002, provides international recognition to important traditional agricultural...
2017
In the world of agriculture, all too often we stop cultivating a vegetable or raising an animal breed simply because they are not profitable enough. The economic market is oriented...
2017
The profile features farmers in New Zealand who came to the idea of regenerative agriculture due to an awareness of the ecological limits being breached by New Zealand agriculture. They believe...
2017
Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) have been established to help the hundreds of smallholder farmers in India who are unable to gain cost-prohibitive certifications for organic farming. These systems allow access...
2017
Smallholder farmers in Gambia are increasingly facing climate related induced disasters and vulnerabilities affecting their lives and livelihoods. During 2010-2012, farmers faced flash floods, periods of drought, disease infestation, saline...
2017