Agroecology Knowledge Hub

Human and social values: protecting and improving rural livelihoods, equity and social well-being is essential for sustainable food and agricultural systems

Agroecology places a strong emphasis on human and social values, such as dignity, equity, inclusion and justice all contributing to the improved livelihoods dimension of the SDGs. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems. By building autonomy and adaptive capacities to manage their agro-ecosystems, agroecological approaches empower people and communities to overcome poverty, hunger and malnutrition, while promoting human rights, such as the right to food, and stewardship of the environment so that future generations can also live in prosperity.

Agroecology seeks to address gender inequalities by creating opportunities for women. Globally, women make up almost half of the agricultural workforce. They also play a vital role in household food security, dietary diversity and health, as well as in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In spite of this, women remain economically marginalised and vulnerable to violations of their rights, while their contributions often remain unrecognized. Agroecology can help rural women in family farming agriculture to develop higher levels of autonomy by building knowledge, through collective action and creating opportunities for commercialization. Agroecology can open spaces for women to become more autonomous and empower them at household, community levels and beyond – for instance, through participation in producer groups. Women’s participation is essential for agroecology and women are frequently the leaders of agroecology projects.

In many places around the world, rural youth face a crisis of employment. Agroecology provides a promising solution as a source of decent jobs. Agroecology is based on a different way of agricultural production that is knowledge intensive, environmentally friendly, socially responsible, innovative, and which depends on skilled labour. Meanwhile, rural youth around the world possess energy, creativity and a desire to positively change their world. What they need is support and opportunities.

As a bottom-up, grassroots paradigm for sustainable rural development, agroecology empowers people to become their own agents of change.

Database

The YALTA initiatives developed a handbook on agroecology to further support its implementation among the youths and other actors in agroecology. This handbook is a consolidation of information from different sources on agroecology and basic production practices. It aims at imparting knowledge to the agriprenuers, especially the youths but can also...
Manual
2022
Within the framework of the second meeting of the TAPE (Tool for the Evaluation of the Performance of Agroecology) workshops that took place in the southern zone of the green belt of the city of Córdoba, Evangelina Argüello from the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetic Resources tells about the...
Video
2021
For many years, La Vía Campesina and GRAIN have been telling the world about how the agroindustrial food system causes half of all greenhouse gas emissions. But the world's governments are refusing to face these problems head on, and the Paris Summit in December is approaching without any effective commitment...
Video
2015
"In this article, Michel Pimbert highlights the transformative elements of agroecology and food sovereignty to clearly identify overlaps and divergences with Climate-smart Agriculture and conventional development." Cultivate!
Website
2017
Face aux impacts négatifs et aux limites de l’agriculture issue de la révolution agricole du XXe siècle – connue sous le nom de « révolution verte » dans les pays du Sud et souvent qualifiée d’agriculture « productiviste » –, de multiples démarches visent, à travers le monde, à mettre...
Report
2013
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