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Agroecology summary + all readings
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Notes on agroecology + all readings that were accessible through UU Global sustainability science, course 2 of the sustainable and healthy food track
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Agroecology, lectures + readings (GEO2-2436)Exam only readings for lectures 1 to 6
Lecture 1 – Course Introduction + Tutorial 1 - History of
agriculture
Readings lecture 1 – The Importance of Peasant Agriculture: A
Neglected Truth
Peasant vs Entrepreneurial farming
- Peasant farming: relies on resources within the farm (like soil and
manure), focuses on sustainability, and has been around for
thousands of years. It provides most of the world’s food and
prioritizes a balanced relationship with nature
- Entrepreneurial farming: depends on external resources (buying
fertilizers, feed, and animals) and is heavily reliant on loans and
markets. It treats farming as a business venture, where profit and
growth are key goals
- In the global south, there is a contrast between small-scale peasant
farms, which produce mainly for local markets, and a minority of
farms focused on exporting crops. This leads to unequal access to
key resources like land, water, and policy support worsening poverty
and unemployment
- In European countries like Italy and the Netherlands, conflicts arise
between smaller family farms and large-scale operations, mostly
over the distribution of agricultural benefits and costs
Crisis in modern agriculture
- Agricultural policies tend to favor entrepreneurial farmers by giving
them more support and resources, even though peasant farmers are
the majority. This creates a situation where entrepreneurial farms
benefit, but the costs of this system are shared by all farmers
(especially peasants)
- Entrepreneurial farming is failing in areas where it was supposed to
excel. Soil fertility has decreased, farmers are heavily in debt, and
the entrepreneurial model is proving unsustainable in many ways
- There is a call for a ‘re-peasantization’ of agriculture, meaning a
return to practices that prioritize balance with nature and long-term
sustainability
Entrepreneurial farming
- Depends heavily on loans and financial markets. Farms must grow
larger to pay back these loans and remain profitable, often by taking
over other farms.
- This kind of farming is less about sustainable growth and more
about making money to pay off debts. As a result, it can lead to less
employment. A more unequal distribution of wealth
Peasant agriculture
- Is important for food security, employment, sustainability, and more.
It helps communities and economies develop more equally.
, - In history, many people fought for the chance to own small farms to
improve their lives. Peasant farming allows for dignity and self-
sufficiency
Repeasantization
- New global trend, where new peasant farms are being created,
especially in countries like China and Brazil. Many (young) people
are getting involved in peasant farming to become independent and
to do things differently from large-scale industrial farming. They are
finding new ways to farm that involve activities like eco-tourism, on-
farm food processing, and managing nature and landscapes
Lecture 1 – Course Introduction
Why agroecology?
- Dominant industrial model based on monocultures and external
inputs variety of externalities that cause environmental and
social degradation
- Indiscriminate use of pesticides = contamination of natural
resources + threat to human health
- Frequent use of mineral fertilizers = disturbances of global
biogeochemical flows, exceeding planetary boundaries
- Conversion of native forests into single-crop plantations =
soil degradation, climate change, erosion due to reduced soil cover,
loss of habitats for wildlife, and increased CO2 emissions
- Plant and animal species are going extinct at high rates = an
ongoing global mass extinction with unknown and possibly
irreversible consequences for planet Earth and human well-being
- Multinational corporatization and financialization of food systems
- Social degradation due to increased concentration of socio-
economic power
- Disrespecting traditional and Indigenous local knowledge and
culture
Challenges
1. Food for a growing population
2. Provision of ecosystem services
3. Biodiversity conservation
4. Cope with socio-environmental changes
Tutorial 1 – History of agriculture
Agricultural revolutions
1. First agricultural revolution (12000BC) beginning of agriculture
2. Second agricultural revolution (1500-1850) industrialization era
3. Third agricultural revolution (1950s – 2000s) green revolution and
bioengineering
4. 2000s - onwards: where are we now?
Trends in modern agriculture
1. Urbanization: fewer people in rural areas
2. Degradation: degradation of natural resources
3. Intensification: high use of (external) inputs and machinery
4. Consolidation: a combination of fewer and larger farms
5. Specialization: increased focus on one or few crops
6. Market concentration: few producers control the market
,Tutorial 2 – What is agroecology? + Lecture 2 –
Agroecological principles and practices
Tutorial 2 – What is agroecology?
- Agroecology: farming in harmony with nature, using practices that
are good for the environment, and supporting communities. It is a
holistic approach that looks at agriculture not just as a way to
produce food, but as a part of a larger ecosystem that includes
people, plants, animals, and the planet
- Agroecosystems: ecosystems that have been intentionally
designed and managed by humans for multiple purposes. Different
components
1. Living organisms: crops, livestock, microorganisms
2. Physical environment: soil water, air
3. Social environment: people, consumers, farmers
- Agroecosystems are characterized by the complex web of
relationships and processes that occur among these components
Agroecological principles
- Recycling
- Efficiency
- Soil health
- Animal Health
- Biodiversity
- Synergy
- Economic diversification
- Co-creation of knowledge
- Culture & food traditions
- Gender and intergeneration equity
- Circular and solidarity economy
- Responsible governance
- Resilience
- Food security /sovereignty \
- Tilling: the process of turning over and breaking up the soil in a
field or garden to prepare the soil for planting crops or seeds
- Mulch: a layer of material spread over the surface of the soil in
gardens, farms, or landscaping that helps protect and improve the
soil and the plants growing in it
Readings lecture 2 - Agroecology and the Right to Food
Investment in agriculture
- People and governments are finally starting to invest in farming
again, especially after the 2007-2008 global food crisis. More money
is being put into agriculture to make sure there is enough food for
the future
- If farming practices damage ecosystems, it will hurt future food
production. We need to improve productivity where food is scarce,
especially in poor countries, while also helping rural farmers make a
decent living
, - Throwing money at the problem will not work. What is needed is a
shift to sustainable, eco-friendly farming practices that benefit the
poorest farmers. This requires careful planning, political support,
and a focus on the right to food for all people
The right to food
- Ensuring that food is available, affordable, and meets nutritional
needs. This also involves giving people a say in the policies that
affect their food supply
- Currently, much of the world’s crops go to feeding animals rather
than humans. Huge amounts of food are also wasted due to poor
storage, pests, and diseases. Diverting crops to make biofuels
worsens food shortages
- Agroecology is an approach that mimics natural ecosystems to
make farming more sustainable. It focuses on improving the health
of the soil, reducing the need for chemical inputs, and using a
diversity of crops and animals. It is a method based on farmers’
knowledge and experience, not just scientific expertise
- Crop breeding can produce drought-resistant and shorter-cycle
crops, helping regions affected by shorter growing seasons
Agroecology
- Reduces smallholder farmers’ dependence on external inputs like
fertilizers. By increasing on-farm fertility, farmers become less
vulnerable to fluctuations in fertilizer prices and supply, especially in
remote areas
- Although agroecology can be labor-intensive at first, it creates rural
jobs and helps reduce migration to urban areas
- Agroecology addresses the nutritional limitations of the Green
Revolution practices, which primarily focus on cereal crops like rice,
wheat, and maize that lack diverse nutrients. Diversified cropping
systems, especially Indigenous fruits and vegetables, can improve
nutrition, particularly for women and children
Key recommendations
1. Farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing: ensures that small-
scale farmers, especially those in remote areas, can identify
solutions that benefit them. Farmer participation in policymaking
is crucial for the realization of the right to food and for
empowering marginalized groups
2. Participatory learning and research: combining the expertise
of scientists and farmers to develop sustainable agricultural
practices
3. Gender empowerment: giving women equal opportunities to
participate in training, decision-making, and agricultural
extension services
4. Market access and infrastructure: small-scale farmers should
be integrated into supply chains and supported to move up the
value chain. This requires better rural infrastructure, like roads
and market organization to protect farmers from price volatility
and competition from subsidized products
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