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

3. 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

4. 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

6. 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

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

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

9. 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)

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

11. 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)

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

14. 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)