Agroecology is farming with nature – not against it – to produce healthy food while protecting the land, supporting farmers, and connecting producers and consumers. It means growing and providing nutritious, diverse foods and feeding communities in a way that ensures fairness, strengthens resilience, and sustains the planet. Quite a lot to ask!

But the current industrial food and farming systems are not fit for purpose. 

What’s wrong with the current food system?  

While current food systems face major environmental, climate and health challenges, they are responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and for nearly 80% of biodiversity loss. They are often chemical-dependent monocultures which makes them vulnerable to disease and unforeseen shocks.  

These practices also contribute to forest destruction, the displacement of communities, social inequalities, water pollution, soil degradation.  

The precarious livelihoods and social inequities, faced by many farmers and food system workers, in particular women, Indigenous Peoples and youth, exacerbate the difficulties in ensuring adequate nutrition for all.   

Agroecology is more than a farming method – it is a global movement for food systems that are fair, local, democratic, and rooted in care.