Is agroecology a solution or an agenda?

Abstract

Agroecology is beginning to dominate agricultural policy debates with advocates arguing from within international organisations like the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization and the European Commission that its holistic approach provides the necessary solutions to the challenges facing agriculture today. This paper will analyse agroecology as a concept, a science, a series of farming practices and as a social movement relying on a recent Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy document as a theoretical benchmark. It will ask whether agroecology is a much needed global solution for our food system crisis or a political agenda being imposed on the most vulnerable farming communities. It will conclude with ten points that will argue in favour of the latter.