Agroecology Knowledge Hub

Circular and solidarity economy: it reconnects producers and consumers and provides innovative solutions for living within our planetary boundaries while ensuring the social foundation for inclusive and sustainable development

Agroecology seeks to reconnect producers and consumers through a circular and solidarity economy that prioritizes local markets and supports local economic development by creating virtuous cycles. Agroecological approaches promote fair solutions based on local needs, resources and capacities, creating more equitable and sustainable markets. Strengthening short food circuits can increase the incomes of food producers while maintaining a fair price for consumers. These include new innovative markets, alongside more traditional territorial markets, where most smallholders market their products.

Social and institutional innovations play a key role in encouraging agroecological production and consumption. Examples of innovations that help link producers and consumers include participatory guarantee schemes, local producer’s markets, denomination of origin labelling, community supported agriculture and e-commerce schemes. These innovative markets respond to a growing demand from consumers for healthier diets.

Re-designing food systems based on the principles of circular economy can help address the global food waste challenge by making food value chains shorter and more resource-efficient. Currently, one third of all food produced is lost or wasted, failing to contribute to food security and nutrition, while exacerbating pressure on natural resources. The energy used to produce food that is lost or wasted is approximately 10 percent of the world’s total energy consumption, while the food waste footprint is equivalent to 3.5 Gt CO2 of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

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The world's agriculture and food systems are not presently delivering desirable outcomes on food security and nutrition. In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted, with SDG2 committing to 'end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture' by 2030. The SDGs recognized, well beyond previous...
Event
2020
Food systems are responsible for global greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and global terrestrial biodiversity loss. They are a significant driver of land conversion and deforestation.  Policies that operate across the food systems can contribute both to food security and environmental sustainability. One of these cross-cutting policy fields is Public Food Procurement...
Article
2020
The Latin American Scientific Society of Agroecology (SOCLA), announces the VIII Latin American Congress of Agroecology under the theme "Agroecology. Latin American identity weaving the territory: urgent transformations for life". It will take place online on November 25, 26 and 27, 2020, under the coordination of the Organizing Commission of...
Event
2020
Food Policy Forum for Change is pleased to invite you to the side event of the Third global conference of the Sustainable Food Systems programme on Stimulating markets for agroecology through public policy on Wednesday 2 December 03:30 - 4:15 PM CET. The creation of markets for agroecology is a key action...
Event
2020
The Nicaraguan Institute of Agricultural Technology, in collaboration with the FAO National office in Nicaragua, presented a conference on “Permaculture, agroecological strategies and food security”. The conference was held on 30 November 2020 as part of a series of events aiming at capacity building of rural extensionists and at raising...
Nicaragua
Event
2020