- Definition: Farming that centers on food production using nature’s goods and services.
- It is an integrated approach applying ecological and social concepts to food/agriculture systems.
- Differences from Conventional Agricultural Practices:
- Nature Interaction: Agroecology works with local ecosystems; conventional battles nature with chemical inputs.
- Inputs: Agroecology improves soil/plant quality through biomass/biodiversity; conventional uses chemical inputs.
- Sustainability: Agroecology aims for long-term holistic solutions; conventional leads to resource degradation.
- Approach: Agroecology is bottom-up, contextualized solutions; conventional is often top-down, industrial.
- Knowledge: Agroecology combines science with traditional/local knowledge; conventional relies on scientific inputs.