Agroecology is not a new buzzword. The approach can be traced back to scientific literature from the 1920s, and has since been expressed in the practices of family farms, grassroots movements, and increasingly in the policies of major international institutions. Put simply, agroecology applies ecological and social principles to farming at the same time — instead of maximising yield in isolation, it looks at the whole system: soil, plant, animal, people, community.
Ten elements, one framework
In 2019, the FAO's 197 member states adopted a framework of ten elements of agroecology that has since served as a shared reference point. These include diversity, the co-creation and sharing of knowledge, synergies between the parts of a system, resource efficiency, recycling, resilience to shocks, as well as human and social values, cultural food traditions, responsible governance, and a circular, solidarity-based economy. Crucially, agroecology is not a single technique but a bundle of principles that can be applied differently depending on climate, soil and community. There is no single blueprint — which is precisely what makes the approach compatible with small-farm realities, rather than standardised industrial processes.
How it differs from conventional farming
While conventional, industrial agriculture often relies on monocultures, external inputs and short-term yield maximisation, agroecology thinks in cycles: crop rotation, intercropping, organic fertilisation, seed conservation, and a close link to the local pedoclimate — the soil and climate specific to a given place.
Diversity: A variety of species and varieties secures nutrition and resilience Knowledge sharing: Innovation is co-created together with local producers Resilience: Capacity to withstand climate shocks and crises Circular economy: Short, solidarity-based value chains instead of global anonymity
FAQ
Is agroecology the same as organic farming? Not quite. Organic farming is usually defined by certification standards, while agroecology is a broader principle that covers ecological, social and economic aspects together — though many agroecological farms are also organically certified.
How long has the term existed? Its scientific roots go back to the 1920s; as an official FAO policy framework, it was only formally adopted in 2019 with the 10 Elements.
Why is diversity such a central element? Diverse cropping systems are more resilient to pests, disease and climate variability than monocultures, and provide a broader nutritional base.
How can I recognise agroecologically grown products? There's no single label; what matters is transparency about growing methods, provenance and direct relationships with producers — exactly what we aim for in every product description.
SOURCES
[1] FAO. The 10 Elements of Agroecology: enabling transitions towards sustainable agriculture and food systems. https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/1308021/ [2] FAO Agroecology Knowledge Hub. 10 elements. https://www.fao.org/agroecology/overview/10-elements/en [3] FAO. The 10 elements of agroecology. https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/1147761/ [4] Bicksler, A.J. et al. (2023). The 10 Elements of Agroecology interconnected. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 11(1). https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/11/1/00041/195900/
