Three influential definitions of agroecology share substantial common ground but differ in how explicitly they address its social and political dimensions. Published in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems in July 2026, this review compares FAO’s 10 Elements of Agroecology, the 13 principles developed by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE), and the 11 pillars of the 2015 Nyéléni Declaration. Drawing on a critical literature review, first-hand expertise and analysis of 125 European social movements, the authors examine how these frameworks emerged and what their differences may mean for agroecological transitions in Europe.

The analysis finds broad alignment on ecological production, biodiversity, resilience, resource efficiency, knowledge co-creation, local economies, culture and responsible governance. FAO and HLPE provide greater detail on ecological processes and production practices, while the Nyéléni framework places stronger emphasis on food-system transformation. Five aspects are identified as central to Nyéléni but absent or less explicit in the other frameworks: opposition to agrotoxics, genetically modified organisms and related technologies; spiritual and non-commodified relationships with land; feminist and intersectional approaches; challenges to global power structures; and collective self-organization.

The authors argue that these differences have practical implications for research, policy and implementation. Rather than treating the frameworks as interchangeable, the review highlights their complementarities and calls for greater attention to social, political and rights-based dimensions when operationalizing agroecology in Europe