The UN Food Systems Summit was called to address the stated need to transform global food systems to adequately nurture a global population of 10 million by 2050 within a sustainable framework. The current production and distribution models are being extensively challenged both from the view of sustaining and increasing output and from societal concerns including food access and affordability for all. It is reported that past, and much of existing, practice is unsustainable and that despite huge productivity gains through the “green revolution” and further technology interventions these gains have further diminished long term sustainability with the future cost related to degraded soils, water systems and declining yields under heavier synthetic fertilizer applications, monoculture cropping and intensive “factory farming”. The rising impact of food waste, the production demands for highly processed ‘discretionary’ foods and a decline in the nutritional value of foods produced in systems that deplete the soil and plant diversity further contribute to sustainability problems, while presenting ‘low hanging fruit’ opportunities to find productivity gains (units of output and nutritional quality) while reducing the environmental footprint of food. There is also recognition that despite advances small holder farmers in LMIC remain among the most vulnerable with aspects of global food trade and aid programs sometimes leading to unanticipated negative consequences. There is growing concern around the political dimensions of food systems, lack of transparency and accountability, issues around access to and control over natural resources and increased concentration of power in the input and retail sectors.
Agroecology is a concept promoted as contributing to food system transformation which combines social, political and economic goals with regenerative use of natural resources to produce more food by more people and encompassing empowerment of small holder farmers and localised solutions to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Application at the production end strives to rebuild and enhance natural ecosystems through improved soils with increased carbon capture, water management and biodiversity. Detailed application varies widely with location and with enterprise but controlled grazing management of ruminants and integration with trees and cropping activities are common themes, encompassed within circular bio-economies.
While agro-ecology is often favoured as a climate/food/livelihoods solution there are structural constraints to be addressed via rerouting of subsidies, access to appropriate ‘regenerative’ finance and the removal of market barriers/disincentives, exemplified by the issue that farmers who do not use certain synthetic products struggle to find insurance and access subsidies and that there is limited access to the market for regenerative products although consumers appear to demand for regenerative products, there is a ‘block’ in the middle of the supply chain so producers and consumers cannot connect.
As defined by the HLPE Report 14, 2019 (REF 2). Agroecology is a dynamic concept that has gained prominence in scientific, agricultural and political discourse in recent years. It is increasingly promoted as being able to contribute to transforming food systems by applying ecological principles to agriculture and ensuring a regenerative use of natural resources and ecosystem services while also addressing the need for socially equitable food systems within which people can exercise choice over what they eat and how and where it is produced. Agroecology embraces a science, a set of practices and a social movement and has evolved over recent decades to expand in scope from a focus on fields and farms to encompass whole agriculture and food systems. It now represents a transdisciplinary field that includes all the ecological, sociocultural, technological, economic and political dimensions of food systems, from production to consumption. The principles are expounded in the reference link above and the contribution of agroecology to the Sustainable Development Goals is summarised in the FAO knowledge hub which also states “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for a new agricultural approach to ensure sufficient, safe and nutritious food respecting human rights. FAO Members have a common vision for sustainable food and agriculture, and agroecology is a key response to guide the sustainable transformation of our food systems.
