agroecology: principles and practices

AGROECOLOGY

Principles and Practices

(Long version)

By Miguel Altieri

With the participation of Angela Hilmi Design Francesca Lucci

Inter-

dependency

Self-regu

lating

Self-renewing

Self-sufficien

cy

Efficien

cy

Diversity

Inter-

dependency

Self-regu

lating

Self-renewing

Self-sufficien

cy

Efficien

cy

Diversity

Modern Practices- Specialization/ centralization

- Interventionist paradigm

- High import/ high export

- Therapeutic approach

Inherent Strengths of System

Erodes inherent pillar strengths

System/Community

SOIL LOSSESErosion; Loss oforganic matter

and Carbon dioxide

AIR EMISSIONSMethane; Ammonia;

Notrous OxideCarbon Dioxide

WATERCONTAMINATION

Pesticides; Nittrates;

Phosphates, Bacteria

Dead ZonesBIODIVERSITY LOSSWildlife and habitat;

Hedgerow and woodland loss;

Bee colony decline;Vanishing Crops and

Breeds

DISAPPEARINGWETLANDS

Draining and Tilling;

Dewatered Rivers;Impact on Species

HUMAN HEALTHPesticides; Asthma;Bacteria and viral

diseases;Antibiotic resistance;Mad Cow and E.Coli;

Bbesity

Abovethe cost ofFood at theCheckoutCounter

Healthy ecosystems

Crop genetic and species diversity

Intensive agricutlure replaces ecological services

AGRICULTURE

Soils

Nutrient cycling

Water

Climate

Pest control

Pollination

Domestic animals

Commercial varieties in

monoculture

Fertilizers

Ground-water pumping

Pesticides

Honey bees

Mechanization

Feed lots

Farmscapes, recreation, biodiversity

Meat, grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds, fibers, fuels

Monoculture landscapes

EXTERNALITIES: eutrophication, pollution; salinization; soil erosion and compaction, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, human health

issues

DFS: restoring ecological services in farms

PLOT FIELD LANDSCAPE

Crop Border/Buffer Strips

Crop Rotation/Cover Crop

RiparianCorridors

NatureReserves

NUTRIENTS WATER SOILS PESTCONTROL

POLLINATION

Polyculture;Plants and

Animals

InsectaryStrips

AGROECOLOGY

Ecology

Anthropology

Ethnoecology

Sociology

Basic agricultural sciences

Ecological economics

Biological Control

Traditional Farmers’

knowledge

Principles

Specific technological forms

Participatory research in farmers’

fields

AGROECOLOGY integrates natural and social processes joining political ecology,

ecological economics and ethnoecology among the hybrid disciplines;

uses a holistic approach therefore it has long been considered as a transdiscipline as it integrates the advances and methods of several other fields of knowledge around the concept of the agroecosystem viewed as a socio-ecological system;

is not neutral and is self-reflexive, giving rise to a critique of the conventional agricultural paradigm;

recognizes and values local wisdom and traditions, creating a dialogue with local actors via participatory research that leads to a constant creation of new knowledge;

adopts a long-term vision that sharply contrasts with the short-term and atomistic view of conventional agronomy; and

is a science that carries an ecological and social ethics with a research agenda of creating nature friendly and socially just production systems.

THE HIDDEN CONNECTIONS

Principles of Ecology NetworksAt all scales of nature, we find living systems nesting within other living systems – networks within networks. Their boundaries are not boundaries of separation but boundaries of identity. All living systems communicate with one another and share resources across their boundaries.

CyclesAll living organisms must feed on continual flows of matter and energy from their environment to stay alive, and all living organisms continually produce waste. However, and ecosystem generates no net waste, one species’ waste being another species’ food. Thus, matter cycles continually through the web of life.

Solar energySolar energy, transformed into chemical energy by the photosynthesis of green plants, drives the ecological cycles.

PartnershipThe exchange of energy and resources in an ecosystem are sustained by pervasive co-operation. Life did not take over the planet by combat but by co-operation, partnership, and networking.

DiversityEcosystems achieve stability and resilience through the richness and complexity of their ecological webs. The greater their diversity, the more resilient they will be.

Dynamic BalanceAn ecosystem is a flexible, ever-fluctuating network. Its flexibility is a consequence of multiple feedback loops that keep the system in a state of dynamic balance. No single variable is maximized; all variables fluctuate around their optimal values.  

Agroecological principles underlying productivity, sustainability and resiliency of agroecosystems

Spatial and temporal genetic and species diversity at farm and landcape level

Crop and animal integration

Biologically active organic matter rich soils

Hi biomass recycling rates and tight nutrient cycles

Optimization of the use of space (agroecological redesign)

Agroecosystem Processes to Optimize

• Organic matter accumulation and nutrient cycling

• Soil biological activity

• Natural control mechanisms (disease suppression, biocontrol of insects, weed interference)

• Resource conservation and regeneration (soil, water, germplasm, etc)

• General enhancement of agrobiodiversity

Sustainable agricultural systems are conceptualized here as being low in material input (pesticides, inorganic fertilizer, etc.) and high in information input (applied ecological knowledge of the system). High chemical input practices conceal and depreciate the importance of ecological processes occurring in agricultural systems. However, as pesticides, fertilizer, etc. are reduced, greater knowledge of the interaction occurring in agroecosystems is required for success. Furthermore, this knowledge must be applied in a practical manner to maintain agroecosystem productivity.

Input susbstitution vs agroecological approach

• Symptoms

• limiting factors

• external inputs

• maximize yields

• monoculture

• ususally one product

• Root causes

• processes

• interactions/synergy

• stabilization

• diversification

• multiple functions and products

Agroecological

Principles

The pillars of agroecosystem health

“Below ground”

Agroecosystem Design

“Above ground” Habitat Management,

Plant Diversification and enhancement of

beneficial fauna

Habitat Management

Biota Activation and Diversification (Soil Organic Matter Nutrient

Management)

Crop Health

Agroecosystem Health

The ecological role of biodiversity in agroecosystem function and the provision of ecosystem services by diversified farming systems (Lopez-Ridaura et al. 2002)

Rotational-intercropping design to reduce soil-nitrate losses

Biodiversity corridor in Fetzer Vineyard

Crop production

Animal production

Integrated System

This model shows an integrated barn with spatial and temporal design of crops, pasture, serials and trees. The pasture constitutes the changing phase of the rotation as grazing animals deposit manure improving soil fertility for the annual crops that use the nutrients thus representing the extracting phase of the rotation

An integrative scheme of peasant knowledge of Nature

Indigenous Mexican maize varieties

Based on indigenous knowledge and rationale

Economically viable, accessible and based on local resources

Environmental sound, socially and cultural sensitive

Risk averse, adapted to heterogeneous circumstances

Enhance total farm productivity

Features of appropriate technologies for poor farmers

Agroecological strategies

Animalintegration

Green manures

Organicamendments

Rotations

Polycultures

Finca “Del Medio” – José A. Casimiro Sancti Spíritus

Area (ha)

Energy (GJ/ha/yr)

Protein (kg/ha/yr)

People fed by produced energy (Pers/ha/yr)

People fed by produced protein (Pers/ha/yr)

Energy efficiency

10

50.6

867

11

34

30

Characteristics of an integrated farm

Findings from a study of MASIPAG organic farmers in the Philippines

Food security is significantly higher for organic farmers.  

Organic farmers have grow 50% more crops thus eating more diverse, nutritious and secure diet.

Organic farms exhibit better soil fertility, less soil erosion, increased tolerance of crops to pests and diseases and climate change

Health outcomes were also substantially better for the organic group.

Badgley et al. 2007 (University of Michigan)

Casi 300 estudios comparativos de agricultura orgánica/agroecológica y agricultura convencional

1: org.=conven. < l: conven. mayor que org. >1: org. mayor que conven.

Agroecology

is socially activating as its diffusion requires constant farmers participation;

is a culturally acceptable approach as it builds upon traditional knowledge and promotes a dialogue of wisdoms with more western scientific approaches;

promotes economically viable techniques by emphasizing use of indigenous knowledge, agrobiodiversity and local resources, avoiding dependence on external inputs;

is ecologically sound as it does not attempt to modify the ergy and efficiency of existing production systems, but rather tries to optimize their performance promoting diversity and synergies

The Campesino a Campesino Movement

• The Campesino a Campesino movement is an extensive grassroots movement in Central America and Mexico.

• It is a cultural phenomenon, a broad-based movement with campesinos as the main actors

• The Campesino a Campesino movement is an excellent example of how alternative technologies and practices can be disseminated bypassing "official channels".

• It is a bottom up, horizontal mechanism for knowledge sharing and technology transfer

Pilars of food sovereignty

Agroecological strategies

Social movements

State supportMarkets, Credit, extensions, Research etc

Land reformAccess to land,water, seeds

Protection against dumping

Agroecology, resilience and the three types of sovereignty to be reached in a rural community.

Hypothetical threshold values established for an agricultural community for each type of sovereignty   

Agroecosystem Diversity

Low external inputs, high recylcling rates,

crop –livestock integration

High

Eficiency

High inputs, industrial monocultures

Low

Low external inputs, diversified with low levels of integration

Medium-Low

Specialized systems with low external inputs

Medium

Pro

du

cti

vit

y

Alta

Baj

a

Baja

Alta

The basic requirements of a Viable and durable agricultural system

capable of confronting the challenges of the 21st century while

carrying out its productive goals within certain threshold established

locally or regionally.

The basic requirements of a Viable and durable agricultural system …

Thank you for your attention!