Our global food system is at a crossroads. Agriculture must meet the challenges of hunger and

malnutrition – against a backdrop of population growth, increased pressure on natural resources

including soils and water, the loss of biodiversity, and the uncertainties associated with climate

change. while past efforts focused on boosting agricultural output to produce more food, today’s

challenges – including climate change – demand a new approach.

we need to shift to more sustainable food systems – food systems that produce more, with

less environmental cost. In many countries agriculture has been seen as an enemy of the

environment, but there is increasing recognition that a regenerative, productive farming sector

can provide environmental benefits while creating rural employment and sustaining livelihoods.

Agroecology offers the possibility of win-win solutions. By building synergies, agroecology can

increase food production and food and nutrition security while restoring the ecosystem services

and biodiversity that are essential for sustainable agricultural production. I firmly believe that

agroecology can play an important role in building resilience and adapting to climate change.

During the International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition, held at

FAO headquarters in Rome on 18 and 19 September 2014, stakeholders representing governments, civil society, science and academia, the private sector, and the UN system gathered to discuss the contribution of agroecology to sustainable food systems.

The Symposium provided an opportunity to share experiences, and build the evidence base on agroecology. These Proceedings bring together the lessons learned as well as scientific research and case studies of agroecology in practice.

Agroecological experiences can be found in all regions, and agroecology policies are already

in place in many countries in Latin America and Europe.

Agroecological approaches have been also recognized by international bodies such as the

Committee on World Food Security.

FAO sees agroecology as a positive contribution to the eradication of hunger and extreme

poverty, and a means to facilitate the transition to more productive, sustainable and inclusive

food systems. FAO will continue to work with member countries to harness the benefits of

agroecology by strengthening the evidence base and identifying and sharing examples of

successful policies, strategies and approaches.

As I stated during the Symposium, the day-to-day experiences and knowledge of family

farmers are the basis for our survival. We must walk together towards a more sustainable path.