Agroecology and ecological intensification: perspectives from Europe and Latin America

From the Graduate School PE&RC
Wageningen University Campus

Agroecology is put forward in European policy making as an ecologically tenable and socially just alternative to current food production and food consumption. The notion is closely related to ecological intensification, the building of agro-ecosystems on the fundament of well-functioning ecological processes.

The mainstreaming of agroecology risks eroding the concept that originated in the Americas, thus losing the momentum for food systems transformation.

What are the meaning and values of agroecology globally and how can agroecology guide the search for locally adapted and fair food production and consumption? 

This mini-symposium, timed to coincide with the occasion of Uruguayan PhD student Mariana Scarlato's PhD defence, features presentations from four perspectives on agroecology and ecological intensification:

• agroecology and its relation to alternative future concepts from a Latin American perspective
• agroecology and its role for Europe
• ‘doing’ agroecology as a researcher
• capacity building for ecological intensification.