What is Agroecology ? Georges F. Félix georges@cultivatecollective.org Brussels, Belgium March 25, 2019 Georges F. Félix georges@cultivatecollective.org

Problems in European food system(s) External inputs Food system “chain value”  Conventional agriculture is generously incentivized in the PAC 1% funding goes to Organic agriculture 1€ spent by a citizen on agricultural produce = 2€ spent by society on health and environmental issues Overweight and health SDG 2 : End Hunger  Nutrition security is very important for Europe

Agroecology: A historical perspective Courtesy of Pablo Tittonell Agroecology: A historical perspective Agroecology as a scientific discipline 1920/30s 1940/50s 1960/70s 1980s 1990s 2000s Field – Plot Biology - Physics Agro-Ecosystem Ecology / Agronomy Co-design and mangament Agro-Ecosystem Agroecology as a set of practices 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Indigenous knowledge Natural resources management Practices and standards (conservation agriculture, permaculture, system of rice intensification, organic farming) Agroecology vs. Conventional Agriculture Agroecology as a social movement 1980s 1990s 2000s Fao has embraced agroecology as a mechanism to end huger: 2 international symposium and many meetings 10 elements of agroecology of the FAO  expands the 5 principles of agroeocology to Indigenous knowledge and family farms Agro-biodiversity, Food sovereignty Sustainable agricultural intensification and food systems http://pubs.iied.org/14629IIED.html?c=foodag

The 10 Elements of Agroecology (FAO) Principles endorsed and expanded Principles endorsed: 2 International Symposia Principle expanded Elements of health, governance, circular economy, education.... HLP-E expert panel on agroecology The 10 Elements of Agroecology (FAO) Principles endorsed and expanded

Re-design food production (1) Extensive Low Diversity Intensive High Diversity Source: Fernando Funes-Monzote, Indio Hatuey, Cuba

Re-design food production (2) Conventional Coffee, Turrialba, Costa Rica (Credit: Georges Félix, 2009) Organic Coffee, Turrialba, Costa Rica (Credit: Georges Félix, 2009)

Re-design food production (3) Community vegetable garden in Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haití (Credit: Andrea Pérez, 2012) Commercial agroecological production, Bejucal, Cuba (Credit: F. Funes-Monzote)

Wezel A, Goris M, Bruil J, Félix GF, Peeters A, Bàrberi P, Bellon S, & Migliorini P. 2018. Challenges and Action Points to Amplify Agroecology in Europe. Sustainability 10(5). DOI: 10.3390/su10051598

Towards agroecology Level 4 > Agroecological Food System(s) Requires paradigm shift Policy Politics Processes Up-scaling Amplification ... Level 3 > Re-design of production system Diversification / Re-configuration / Intensification Level 2 > Input substitution and “detox” process a.k.a. ‘Organic certification’ Level 1 > Increase efficiency of conventional practices ‘Good’ or ‘Sound’ agronomy Courtesy of Fernando Funes-Monzote; Adapted from Hill (1985), Francis et al. (2003), Gliessman (2010), Wezel & David (2011)

Pathways to agroecology Map agroecological practices Promote knowledge exchanges Support European farmers transform towards agroecology Technical support :) Financial support €

Agroecology principles Strategy Examples of Agroecological Practices Recycling Enhance recycling of biomass · Compost · Zero pollution / Zero waste · Bio-digester (waste to energy) Synergy Secure favorable soil conditions · Permanent soil cover · Contour lines · Mulching · Organic matter addition · Minimum tillage · Erosion control measures Efficiency Minimize losses, reduce external inputs, increase external outputs · Reasonable productivity · Bio-fertilizers / Bio-stimulants Diversity Species and genetic diversification in space and time · Crop rotations · Crop associations · Polycultures Interactions Improve biological interactions · Agroforestry · Green manures · Nitrogen fixation · Crop-livestock integration (Gliessman, 2002; Francis et al., 2003; Altieri et al 2015)