Agroecology What it is and what it has to offer Laura Silici Issue Paper Food and agriculture Keywords: June 2014 Agroecology, Small-scale farming, Food sovereignty, Agro-biodiversity About the authors Laura Silici, Researcher, IIED Natural Resources Group, Agroecology team
[email protected] Acknowledgements The author is extremely grateful to Barbara Adolph, Krystyna Swiderska and Seth Cook (IIED) for their significant contributions to the draft; to Patrick Mulvany (UK Food Group) and Bruce Ferguson (El Colegio de la Frontera Sur) for reviewing the paper; and to Fiona Hinchcliffe for her valuable editorial advice. Produced by IIED’s Natural Resources Group The aim of the Natural Resources Group is to build partnerships, capacity and wise decision-making for fair and sustainable use of natural resources. Our priority in pursuing this purpose is on local control and management of natural resources and other ecosystems. Published by IIED, June 2014 Laura Silici, 2014. Agroecology: What it is and what it has to offer. IIED Issue Paper. IIED, London. Product code: 14629IIED ISBN: 978-1-78431-065-3 Printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Photo credit: CIMMYT using Creative Commons International Institute for Environment and Development 80-86 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8NH, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 3463 7399 Fax: +44 (0)20 3514 9055 email:
[email protected] www.iied.org @iied www.facebook.com/theIIED Download more publications at www.iied.org/pubs ISSUE PAPER In a context of a changing climate and growing concerns for more healthy food systems, agroecology is gaining momentum as a scientific discipline, sustainable farming approach and social movement.