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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.

Yahara pride farms conservation board
The city of Madison, Wisconsin is built on an isthmus between two lakes fed from largely agricultural lands. Water quality, affected by excess phosphorus (P) in particular in this area,...
2018
Innovation
Women-led agriculture service team in inclusive food system programme
In Cambodia, small-scale farmers are facing the issue of low economic returns from their rice farming because of low productivity and high input costs. The system of rice intensification (SRI)...
2018
Innovation
Perennial Rice - Sustainable rice production system
Two serious problems in rice production should be solved, not only in China, but also all over the world. First, environmental problems need to be addressed, such as soil erosion...
2018
Innovation
Prácticas silvopasoriles en el trópico seco
Durante mucho tiempo la producción de ganado en el trópico seco se ha centrado en el desmonte del bosque (también llamado “monte”) y la siembra de pastos mejorados. Sin embargo,...
2018
Guidelines
Enhancing food security and market access for land constrained women farmers
Agriculture is the mainstay of the Kenyan economy and contributes over 45 percent of government revenue. The agricultural sector is the largest employer, representing 60 percent of total employment. Overall,...
2018
Innovation
Agroecology plus six (AE+6)
More than 12 million small-scale farmers and their families in the risk-prone, dryland areas of the Western Sahel have become chronically vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity. This growing crisis...
2018
Innovation
Agroecological and agroforestry practices in tropical wet zones
This technical guide provides details of numerous techniques specific for tropical wet zones. It describes the core principles of agroecology, distilling local knoweldge accumulated by family farming. This guide is designed...
2017
Guidelines
Guidelines for public support to organic agriculture
These guidelines have been prepared by IFOAM-Organics International as part of the Global Policy Toolkit on Public Support to Organic Agriculture. The guidelines make the cornerstone of this toolkit and...
2017
Guidelines
Developing and promoting agroecological innovations within country program strategies to address agroecosystem resilience in production landscapes: a guide
This guide is intended to serve as the basis for the implementation of the Innovative Agro-ecology component of the GEF Small Grants Programme in its 6th Operational phase, and to...
2016
Guidelines
Mainstreaming ecosystem services and biodiversity into agricultural production and management in East Africa. Technical guidance document
This guidance document will be produced to assist countries in finding synergies between two important realms of international agreements: sound chemicals management and biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. We suggest...
2016
Guidelines
Guide des pratiques agroécologiques
Ce guide, en français et en wolof, capitalise les pratiques agricoles teste es et valide es avec les exploitants dans le cadre du projet REFSA. Loin d’e tre exhaustif, il...
2015
Guidelines
Moeda: building a more inclusive and egalitarian world with finance
Moeda is an ecosystem of financial services and technology that seeks to create positive social impact and that provides, among other services, an integrated financing model for sustainable social development,...
2015
Innovation
IPES-Food: 10 Principles to guide the transition to Sustainable Food Systems
The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, IPES-Food, is a new initiative aimed at informing the debate on how to reform food systems. IPES-Food has identified 10 key...
2015
Guidelines
Building plate tanks
This didactic material STEP BY STEP on the construction of plate tanks is the result of the joint work between the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), and the Articulation...
2014
Innovation
Implementing improved tenure governance in fisheries
This Guide has been developed to assist in the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National...
2013
Guidelines
Organic Equivalence Tools
This document sets out international requirements for organic certification bodies (IROCB). These requirements are intended to represent a consensus on good practices in organic conformity assessment among private and public...
2012
Guidelines
InPaC-S: Participatory Knowledge Integration on Indicators of Soil Quality
In recent years, more attention has been paid to local knowledge for its important contribution to the design of strategies for sustainable management of natural resources. The importance of soil...
2012
Guidelines
Guide for decision makers
This guide draws on the lessons learned in the framework of the project “Increasing incomes and food security of small farmers in West and Central Africa through exports of organic...
2010
Guidelines
Guidelines for smallholder group management of organic and fairtrade certification
This document defines operative procedures and minimum requirements for building smallholder groups’ management capacity for organic agriculture and fair trade certification. These guidelines propose requirements for establishing a credible and efficient...
2010
Guidelines
Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture Vol. 6
This sixth and last volume in our publication series features the final results of the International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture (ITF). The ITF worked from...
2009
Guidelines