Agroecology Knowledge Hub

Practices and innovations

Agroecology is the science of applying ecological concepts and principles to manage interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment for food security and nutrition. All over the world, farmers and food provisioners already apply this approach, which has a fundamental basis in traditional and local knowledge. FAO recognizes the importance of farmers managing human and natural capital to improve food security, nutrition, and rural development. They are seen as constant innovators and researchers who contribute to develop sustainable agriculture and more resilient rural livelihoods.

Below some examples of how farmers and other food provisioners are acting as the custodians of complex and innovative techniques that, through agroecology, combine local knowledge, traditional products and innovation.

In Regions

The countries and regions page offer knowledge and information on agroecology related issues by country (FAO Members and Associated Nations) and region. The purpose is to offer a quick and reliable way to access country-specific information on agroecology without the need to search in each section of the platform.

The initiative is located in the valley of Asni, at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains. In 2010, the family farms of the Tifawine cooperative decided to change their...
2021
The Senegalese village of Guélack is located 19 km southeast of Saint-Louis and north of Dakar, in the commune of Gandon. The drought of the 1970s severely affected the population of...
2021
This fact sheet presents a family agroecosystem, located in the community of Enjeitado in the Sertão do Pajeù in Brazil – the most populous semi-arid region in the world. Sabià Agroecological...
2021
FAO published, in collaboration with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and within the Scaling up Agroecology Initiative, ''Legislation to promote agroecology in the Latin American and...
2021
The initiative is situated in the greater Johannesburg area in Gauteng Province. This urban area is the most densely populated and industrialised in southern Africa. Most of its food is...
2021
Among the objectives of the "Guidelines for Provincial Educational Policies on Agroecology" is to "encourage teachers and professionals to create areas of reflection and action in the school environment, focusing...
2020
As part of the Agroecological series, this guide introduces the community-based landscape work of the Seed Knowledge Initiative (SKI), a partnership of Southern African organizations committed to securing food sovereignty...
2020
The Farmers and Rural Producers’ Organizations Mapping (FO-MAPP) was created to fill the critical information and visibility gap of farmers’ organizations. FO-MAPP is an interactive online database that provides geo-referenced information on...
2020
Since 2015, the Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) of Chile has been leading a project involving various entities linked to agriculture, which have come together with the aim of strengthening agroecological...
2020
Inspired by the historical resistance of women in rural areas, a new guide is launched to support transformative feminist food politics. Rather than reinforcing gender roles that confine women to...
2020
The Horizon 2020 research project "Sino-EU Soil Observatory for intelligent Land Use Management (SIEUSOIL)'' will design, implement and test a shared China and the European Union (EU) Web Observatory platform that...
2020
The Agroecology Criteria Tool (ACT) enables the assessment of a project through the lens of agroecology: it visualizes the degree to which a project, program or policy is aligned with...
2020
This book is a product of the Xichong Organic Innovation Committee, a group composed of 9 organic innovation experts from all over Asia. It provides a valuable framework for organic...
2020
The Open Food Network is a global network of people and organizations working together to develop open and shared resources, knowledge, and software to support a better food system. Open...
2020
Italy’s bio-districts represent clearly defined territories that encompass organic agriculture and food production, promotion of local community initiatives, cultural heritage, and traditional crafts. Bio-districts foster collaboration between farmers, local residents,...
2020
The situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need to create alternatives driven by agroecology and the social and solidarity economy. AlterBanc is an alliance between the networks...
2020
The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) elaborates this guide, as an innovative alternative, in response to the need for the right diet in these times of COVID-19 in...
2020
Sustainable food systems are fundamental to ensuring that future generations are food secure and eat healthy diets. Many food system activities must be reconstructed to transition towards sustainability, and myriad...
2020
This publication is the second in the series entitled Ideas for Emerging Agencies and was prepared as part of the initiative to promote the agroecological transition led by the United...
2020
Food and agriculture have always been a central battleground for the deployment of new technologies. The power vested in technology to transform the global economic system has never been greater....
2020