Agroecology and its role in the transformation of sustainable food systems

Around the world, food systems are struggling to provide healthy, diversified diets for all. At the same time, sustainable farming practices that ensure environmental health as well as social well-​being urgently need to be implemented.

To address these challenges, agroecology is on the rise around the world.

Agroecology is a promising integrated and holistic approach that aims at transforming food systems. At its core is the sustainable conservation and protection of biodiversity and natural resources through the co-​creation and sharing of knowledge. It is based on bottom-​up, territorial, and interdisciplinary processes striving to deliver contextualized solutions to local problems. Special emphasis lies on the empowerment of farmers and other food system actors as key agents of change.

Agroecology is not a new concept. It has already been applied for decades in family farmers' practices and has guided both policymakers and grassroots social movements in different countries around the world. However, more recently global discussions on the role of agroecology in food system transformation across its three different dimensions, namely scientific discipline, agricultural practice, and political-​social movement became more intense and broader.

This public lecture series provides a variety of perspectives on the topic of agroecology. Experts on various elements of agroecology provide inputs and share state-​of-the-art knowledge. They will discuss benefits and the potential of agroecology to contribute to sustainable food system transformation but also challenges and limitations. The public lectures are thematically structured along the 13 principles of agroecology, proposed by the High-​Level Panel of Experts for Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security. This fall, a series of five lectures will highlight the principles of biodiversity, animal health, social values, participation, and land and natural resource use governance.

We look forward to the upcoming discussions, and we invite all to join us.