What does agroecology focus on?

Agroecology focuses on enhancing agricultural sustainability and resilience through ecological principles. This approach emphasizes working with natural processes and ecosystems to create farming systems that are not only productive but also environmentally sound and socially responsible. By integrating knowledge from ecology, agronomy, and social sciences, agroecology promotes diverse and resilient farming practices that can adapt to changing environmental conditions and reduce reliance on synthetic inputs. This method prioritizes biodiversity, soil health, and water conservation, leading to systems that can thrive sustainably over the long term while supporting the well-being of farmers and communities.

In contrast, applying industrial farming methods, maximizing chemical pesticide use, and promoting monoculture practices typically focus on short-term productivity improvements often at the expense of long-term sustainability and ecological health. These practices can lead to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to pests and climate impacts, which agroecology aims to mitigate.