Agroecology - Definition and significance for SDC

Context: Why agroecology?

Today’s food systems are facing increasingly complex and interconnected challenges. These challenges are, on the one hand, environmental, with agriculture being both affected by and a major contributor to climate change and natural resources degradation. Food production accounts for about one-third of net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.^[1] Overexploitation of soil, excessive use of chemical inputs, and land-use changes are major drivers of biodiversity loss and degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. On the other hand, these challenges are socio-political, with small-scale producers lacking access to essential resources, financing, and training, while most of the power is concentrated in the hands of multinational corporations and large retailers. As a result, the current system does not enable healthy food choices for the majority of the global population, despite decades of increased food production. Nutritious food is often unaffordable for the most disadvantaged populations, while obesity and diet-related non communicable disease are on a worrying rise.

In response to these challenges, various approaches have been advocated to make agriculture more ecologically sustainable (climate-smart agriculture, organic farming) or socially equitable (fair trade). However, it is increasingly recognised that the issues facing today’s food systems cannot be resolved in isolation. A comprehensive transformation is needed. Therefore, the SDC Food Systems section views agroecology, broadly defined as “the application of ecological principles to the design and management of sustainable agricultural and food systems,^[2] as the most promising approach to address the structural causes of these challenges. By considering the intricate interplay of biological, ecological, social, economic, and cultural elements, agroecology aims to ensure the regenerative use of natural resources while fostering socially equitable food systems. Since 2020, the Food Systems section of the SDC has thus decided to place agroecology at the heart of its actions (An amendment to the Global Programme Food Security strategy 2017-2020, SDC-GPFS). In line with this commitment, the section's 2021-2024 strategy aims for 50% of its protfolio to align with agroecological principles.

Agroecology is highly relevant not only to the mandate of the Food Systems section but also to Switzerland's international cooperation strategy and interests. With Switzerland importing nearly half of its food, the sustainability of local and global food systems is crucial for ensuring a regular and diverse food supply. Biodiversity conservation also plays an essential role in our national food production. Therefore, Switzerland's sustainable development's strategy has identified sustainable consumption and production as priorities for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting agroecology as a key tool to achieve these goals. Similarly, the Climate strategy for agriculture jointly designed by the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FVOV) and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), recognises the promotion of agroecological principles as essential for enabling agriculture to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, agroecology addresses at least two key thematic priorities of Switzerland's international cooperation strategy: mitigating and adapting to climate change, and promoting the creation of significant local employment opportunities.

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[1]} IPCC (2023): Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, H. Lee and J. Romero (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 1-34
^[2] FAO (2018), The 10 elements of agroecology, Rome, Italy.

Definition

Agroecology is a dynamic concept that has gained prominence in scientific, agricultural and political discourse in recent years. Agroecology has three facets. It is a scientific discipline; a set of practices and a movement.

• Agroecology as a transdisciplinary science

  Agroecology, as a science, explores the intricate relationships among agricultural systems, surrounding ecosystems, and society, drawing upon insights from ecology, natural sciences, social sciences, and economics. An important actor in this respect is the Consultative Group for International Research CGIAR, which has launched its Agroecology initiative in 2022. The aim of this initiative is to demonstrate and scientifically analyze the impact of agroecology in different socio-economic contexts in terms of equity, productivity, economic and environmental benefits.

• Agroecology as a set of practices

  Agroecology applies ecological principles – such as recycling, resource use efficiency, diversification, soil health and synergies - to agriculture in order to create more stable, resilient, and productive agroecosystems. Meanwhile, it is important to note that there are no clear boundaries between what is an agroecological practice and what is not. Rather, practices can be classified along a spectrum depending on the extent to which they are environmentally friendly, locally adapted, and adopt a systemic approach. For a detailed presentation of agroecological farming practices, their advantages and constraints, see the Agrisud international Guide “Agroecological best practices” .

• Agroecology as a social movement

  Agroecology has also developed as a common conceptual framework for a number of social movements that are challenging the industrial agronomic model and fighting for farmer autonomy and food sovereignty. Agroecology is thus not only a narrow set of technologies, but a political drive that aims at transforming structures of power and imbalances in society and promoting social justice. Switzerland is part of the the Agroecology Coalition, which brings together numerous civil society and non-governmental organisations, governments, foundations and research institutes that aim to accelerate the transition to fairer, more sustainable food systems. For an overview of the various groups and projects dedicated to agroecology, see also the agroecology map.

Principles and Scales of Application

Agroecology has a long history and, as a result, various definitions and interpretations exist. In 2019, 197 countries endorsed the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) 10 elements of agroecology with the aim of harmonizing approaches and offering a common vision of agroecology. Building on these, the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) released the 13 principles of agroecology. These principles are now widely used by civil society organisations, NGOs, and researchers worldwide. A key characteristic of these broadly formulated principles is that they can and should be adapted to local conditions, allowing for a variety of agroecological practices and measures based on the specific context. Furthermore, they can be applied at different levels of the food system: at the farm level, but also at the community level, for example by strengthening the links between producers and consumers, or at the societal level, by promoting responsible governance.

Complementarities and differences between agroecology and other related concepts

Agroecology can be understood as an umbrella term encompassing various concepts that seek to create more sustainable and socially just food systems. The table below provides a non-exhaustive illustration of how agroecological principles intersect with these different concepts.

Agroecology shares many common principles with other approaches aimed at improving agricultural sustainability, such as organic farming, regenerative agriculture, and climate-resilient agriculture. All these methods focus on optimizing the use of local resources and enhancing the resilience of agroecosystems through practices like composting, crop rotation, the use of biopesticides, drip irrigation, and agroforestry.

However, agroecology is distinct in its holistic approach, addressing not only environmental factors but also the socio-economic dimensions of food systems. It emphasises the inclusion of marginalised groups and advocates for a bottom-up approach to food production, centering on local populations and their needs. Agroecology is thus closely related to concepts such as food sovereignty, the right to food, and seed rights.

While all these concepts each focus on different aspects of food systems, they complement rather than contradict one another. For instance, supporting seed sovereignty—where farmers retain control over their seeds—can enhance agroecological practices by fostering biodiversity and local crop adaptation. Similarly, advocating for land rights ensures that marginalised communities have secure land access, which is essential for the effective implementation of agroecological practices.

Finally, it is important to note that the multifaceted nature of agroecology can make it challenging to establish global standards. For instance, organic farming follows well-defined regulations, such as the exclusion of synthetic inputs and GMOs, while agroecology lacks universally recognised criteria for what qualifies as an agroecological product. This often makes it more difficult to find specific markets for agroecological products compared to those for organic farming.

Currently, the most widely recognised tool for evaluating agroecological transition is the TAPE (Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation), developed by the FAO. This tool aims to provide a standardised methodology for measuring the performance of agroecological systems across different contexts, considering their environmental, social, and economic dimensions.