Agroecology: Principles for the Conversion and Redesign of Farming Systems

Abstract

Modern agroecosystems require systemic change, but new redesigned farming systems will not emerge from simply implementing a set of practices (rotations, composting, cover cropping, etc.) but rather from the application of already well defined agroecological principles. These principles can be applied using various practices and strategies, each having different effects on productivity, stability and resiliency of the target farming system. By breaking the monoculture nature of farming systems, agroecological diversification aims at mimicking ecological processes leading to optimal nutrient cycling and organic matter turnover, soil biological activation, closed energy flows, water and soil conservation and balanced pest-natural enemy populations. All these processes are key for maintaining the agroecosystem's health, productivity and its self-sustaining capacity. By enhancing functional biodiversity, a major goal of the conversion process is achieved: strengthening the weak ecological functions in the agroecosystem, allowing farmers to gradually eliminate inputs altogether by relying instead on ecological processes and interactions.

Social-ecological resilience of small-scale coffee production in the Porce river basin, Antioquia (Colombia)

“…Besides decreased production costs, which generate less dependence on external inputs, agroecology offers advantages to the families related to the relative autonomy from input markets -when local resources are employed instead of purchased inputs -, from food markets -greater provision through diverse markets and products for self-sustenance -and from local or organic markets. (Nicholls et al 2016).…”

“…According to Rahn et al (2013), it is possible to mitigate and adapt to the effects of price variation by increasing productive diversity. Nicholls et al (2016) say that the application of agroecological principles may help the systems to gain the three types of autonomies, namely, autonomy from the marketemployment of resources from the surroundings, instead of their purchase -, autonomy from the food markets -food self-sufficiency-and autonomy from international markets, together with the redirection of products to local or organic markets.…”

“…The institution helps them to commercialize the coffee grain but it does not motivate them or train them to produce organic or special kinds of coffee, nor to build social-ecological resilience. Agroecological knowledge is important to strengthen coffee growers and other actors in the territory intellectually, helping to create empowerment and to solve concrete problems of the region (Nicholls et al 2016).…”

Converging and diverging principles and practices of organic agriculture regulations and agroecology. A review

“…Organic farming is a response to the global need for more sustainable farming practices, and is one of the so-called alternative forms of agriculture, e.g. natural agriculture (Fukuoka and Fukuoka 1978), permaculture (Ferguson and Lovell 2014;Mollison 1988), and biodynamic agriculture (Steiner et al 2005). The organic agriculture label is the only one, together with the Demeter label, that identifies biodynamic products, that implies a system of control and certification, and that it is recognised worldwide.…”

Agroecology and Ecological Intensification. A Discussion from a Metabolic Point of View

“…But in a specific place and over a limited period of time it could be sustainable if the intensification occurs under agroecological criteria. Indeed, agroecology holds that the only sustainable way to further intensify agricultural production without damaging the natural resources is by using agroecological methods [23][24][25]; for example, by crop rotation, increasing biodiversity, incorporating legumes into fields, using agroforestry techniques, etc. This could be the best way to reduce the yield gap that exists today between conventional agriculture and OF.…”