Agroecological Principles for the Conversion of Farming Systems

Nicholls, Clara I.; Altieri, Miguel A.; Vázquez, Luis L.

doi:10.1142/9781786343062_0001

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(26 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…crop rotation, composting, cover cropping, etc.). They are, and will be, designed as Nicholls et al (2017) define as the ultimate agroecological system: i.e. «an ecological infrastructure that through plot-to landscape-scale diversification, encourage[s] ecological interactions that generate […] essential ecosystem services' '.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its goal is to create biodiverse, resilient and fertile environments, use and recycle the nutrients and the energy of agroecosystems, while maintaining their self-sustaining capacity. Agroecological farming strives to achieve diversification at farm and/or landscape level, augment biological interactions and agroecosystem synergies as well as reduce dependence on agrochemicals and energy inputs (Altieri 2002;Nicholls, Altieri, & Vazquez, 2017). Agroforestry is defined as «a collective name for land-use systems and technologies where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.)…”

Section: Farm Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Sustainability Assessment in Soy, Family and Agroforestry Farms: Application of the Rise Tool to the Cerrado

Miller¹,

Schermer²,

Löbmann³

et al. 2020

EYD

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over the last 30 years, extensive areas of Cerrado, the Brazilian savannah, have been converted to export-oriented agribusinesses. The social, environmental and economic impact of such large-scale land-use conversion is massive. To understand whether the current farming development in the Cerrado is sustainable, this study analyzes the sustainability performance of single farms applying the triple bottom line approach. Its aim is to assess the sustainability of soy, family and agroforestry farms. Fifteen farms were analyzed through the indicator-based sustainability assessment tool «RISE». The sustainability scores of RISE themes revealed that soy farms are economically sustainable, while their socio-environmental sustainability degree is rather critical. They scored lower than the other two farm types in all RISE themes except in the «economic viability» and «water use». Family farms and agroforestry are environmentally sustainable according to RISE.The sustainability degree of their social themes is either critical or scarcely positive mainly due to the high number of working hours and the low wage and income level. Looking at the economic sustainability, family farms reached a critical degree and agroforestry farms a barely positive degree. While the difference of sustainability performance between soy farms and the two others is large, it is minimal between agroforestry and family farms. RISE was a valid tool to assess with a moderate amount of data the sustainability performance of highly diverse farm types in the Cerrado.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Farm Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability Assessment in Soy, Family and Agroforestry Farms: Application of the Rise Tool to the Cerrado

Miller¹,

Schermer²,

Löbmann³

et al. 2020

EYD

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The fragility of the globalized food system has become apparent, and there is a need for a transition to a more socially just, ecologically resilient, and localized food system. Agroecology can help in such transitions by promoting diversified and resilient agroecosystems that produce healthy food while delivering ecosystem services (Nicholls, Altieri & Vazquez, 2016). Agroecology is already providing solutions to some of the new food and agricultural challenges emerging from the pandemic (Altieri & Nicholls, 2020), particularly by strengthening action on optimizing urban agriculture, promoting alternative animal production systems and revitalizing farm and family agriculture (Figure 3).…”

Section: Agroecology In Times Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rapid expansion of industrial agriculture and its disruption of wild ecosystems is part of this cascade, which imposes a great ecological toll on the planet, a trend that agroecologists contend must be reversed (Campbell et al, 2017). Agroecology points the way towards the restoration of ecological rationale in agriculture by promoting principles and practices that lead to more biodiverse agricultural systems that are more resilient to pest outbreaks, pandemics, climate disruptions, and other future shocks (Nicholls et al, 2016). A guiding principle in agroecology is to mimic natural ecosystems by reorganizing agroecosystems based on the principles of diversity, synergy, efficiency, and recycling (Gliessman, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A guiding principle in agroecology is to mimic natural ecosystems by reorganizing agroecosystems based on the principles of diversity, synergy, efficiency, and recycling (Gliessman, 2010). Inspired by the diverse models of traditional agriculture that have stood the test of time, agroecologists promote crop diversification (polycultures, rotations, agroforestry systems and crop-livestock-fish integration) as an effective agroecological strategy to reintroduce biodiversity into agroecosystems, which in turn provides a number of ecological services to farmers, such as soil fertility, pest and disease regulation, and pollination, while enhancing autonomy, resilience and food sovereignty (Nicholls et al, 2016). Agroecology also embraces a sociopolitical dimension, advocating for social justice and the radical transformation of the corporate-controlled food system (Rosset & Altieri, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Agroecology: challenges and opportunities for farming in the Anthropocene

Altieri

Nicholls

2020

IJANR

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The multiple crises facing humanity at the onset of the Anthropocene are creating a moment in which agroecology acquires greater relevance as an alternative approach for meeting sustainable development goals and providing guidelines for the reconstruction of a post-COVID-19 agricultural system that is capable of minimizing future widespread disruptions of food supplies by pandemics and climate change by enhancing linkages between small-scale food production and local consumption. There are three main areas in which agroecology can be used in the development of a new post-COVID-19 agricultural system: revitalizing small farms, creating alternative animal production systems and enhancing urban agriculture. Focusing food and agricultural policies on agroecology as a main strategy for achieving autonomy and resilience can rapidly transform the ways in which we produce and consume food while addressing global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, poverty, and deteriorating health.

show abstract