Conveners
Agroecology: concepts and performance of a food systems approach
- Marcos Lana (SLU)
- Guenaelle Hellou (I AGRO)
Description
Objectives:
This thematic forum introduces agroecology, with particular attention to its role in transforming food systems. The session will explore how agroecological principles can be used to assess and improve the environmental, social, and economic performance of agricultural and food systems. Participants will discuss how a food systems approach broadens the analysis beyond farm-level practices to include actors, institutions, knowledge systems, markets, and policy. The objective is to create a space for critical reflection on the opportunities and challenges of agroecology in different regional and socio-political contexts.
Expected learning outcomes or key discussion points:
- Explain agroecology as a multidimensional concept linking ecological principles, farming practices, and food system transformation.
- Distinguish between farm-level agroecological practices and broader food systems approaches.
- Discuss how agroecological performance can be assessed, including productivity, biodiversity, resilience, equity, autonomy, knowledge exchange, and social justice.
- Reflect on trade-offs and tensions, such as yield vs. diversification, local adaptation versus scaling, and technical innovation versus social transformation.
- Compare agroecological transitions across different European and global contexts.
- Identify the role of participants, researchers, farmers, consumers, and institutions in supporting agroecological food systems.