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.

Database

On Friday 8 March 2019, FAO organized a Technical Seminar on “Agroecology in extensive mixed farming systems: similar productivity, lower costs and increased resilience”. In implementing the “Scaling up Agroecology Initiative”, FAO works with partners to facilitate the generation and co-creation of knowledge, and the dissemination of specific evidence on Agroecology’s contribution...
Argentina
Event
2019
Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems. It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while taking into consideration the social aspects that need to be addressed for...
Event
2019
In April, the Estonian University of Life Science in Tartu will host the Agroforum Mare Balticum 2019, which will gather a range of different stakeholders. The sessions will address diverse multidisciplinary Agroecology approaches. Agroforum will target decision makers and influencers within the political, administrative, academia and producer sectors, for instance ministers...
Estonia
Event
2019
Nanjing University shows its support for Agroecology by hosting this Conference that gathers civil society, academia, government officials, farmers and consumers to discuss their concerns about Agroecology to be able to address them through a holistic approach. The Conference will address agroecological themes such as sustainable transition towards ecological agriculture where...
China
Event
2019
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) will host this Congress to discuss Mexican Agroecology, food sovereignty, knowledge, ‘’cosmovision’’ and biocultural heritage. Marginalization, food dependence and the effects of climate change make Mexico vulnerable as a country, especially within the social strata that have fewer economic resources. One way to reverse this...
Mexico
Event
2019