Broadscale diversification of Midwestern agriculture requires an agroecological approach

Abstract

We write to highlight the potential for aca­demic agroecology to address the crucial challenge facing agriculture in the Upper Midwest region of the U.S.: diversification. Integrative forms of agroecology—often framed as “science, prac­tice, and movement” (Wezel et al. 2018)—can make important and unique contributions to expanding the scale at which diversified farming systems are adopted in the region. After outlining the current situation in the Upper Midwest region, we identify particular roles—currently not robustly practiced—that academic agroecologists can play to advance diversification.