Agroecology: The Ecology of Food Systems

Francis, Charles; Lieblein, Geir; Gliessman, Stephen R.; Breland, Tor Arvid; Creamer, Nancy G.; Harwood, Richard R.; Salomonsson, Lennart; Helenius, Juha; Rickerl, Diane; Salvador, Ricardo J.; Wiedenhoeft, Mary H.; Simmons, Steve R.; Allen, Patricia; Altieri, Miguel A.; Flora, Cornelia Butler; Poincelot, Raymond P.

doi:10.1300/j064v22n03_10

Cited by 669 publications

(433 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Agroecology requires a high degree of collective actions, notably in its larger definition that extends the room for reflection up to the food system (Francis et al, 2003). This collective dimension questions the way extension services are currently organized and whether this organization effectively helps scale up agroecological practices and systems (I39).…”

Section: Scaling-up Agroecological Apsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forty research issues for the redesign of animal production systems in the 21st century

Dumont

García

Thomas

et al. 2014

Animal

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Agroecology offers a scientific and operational framework for redesigning animal production systems (APS) so that they better cope with the coming challenges. Grounded in the stimulation and valorization of natural processes to reduce inputs and pollutions in agroecosystems, it opens a challenging research agenda for the animal science community. In this paper, we identify key research issues that define this agenda. We first stress the need to assess animal robustness by measurable traits, to analyze trade-offs between production and adaptation traits at within-breed and between-breed level, and to better understand how group selection, epigenetics and animal learning shape performance. Second, we propose research on the nutritive value of alternative feed resources, including the environmental impacts of producing these resources and their associated non-provisioning services. Third, we look at how the design of APS based on agroecological principles valorizes interactions between system components and promotes biological diversity at multiple scales to increase system resilience. Addressing such challenges requires a collection of theories and models (concept-knowledge theory, viability theory, companion modeling, etc.). Acknowledging the ecology of contexts and analyzing the rationales behind traditional small-scale systems will increase our understanding of mechanisms contributing to the success or failure of agroecological practices and systems. Fourth, the large-scale development of agroecological products will require analysis of resistance to change among farmers and other actors in the food chain. Certifications and market-based incentives could be an important lever for the expansion of agroecological alternatives in APS. Finally, we question the suitability of current agriculture extension services and public funding mechanisms for scaling-up agroecological practices and systems.

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Section: Scaling-up Agroecological Apsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forty research issues for the redesign of animal production systems in the 21st century

Dumont

García

Thomas

et al. 2014

Animal

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“…Our research is focused on the last two categories of services that have received little attention from research. Finally, as these two categories are clearly linked to the impact of livestock farming beyond the farm scale, we consider the whole food system scale from production to consumption (Francis et al 2003). By opposition, when negative contributions of livestock were mentioned on the cultural or territorial vitality dimensions, it was considered as a disservice.…”

Section: Conceptual Framework: Services Provided By Livestockmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural and territorial vitality services play a key role in livestock agroecological transition in France

Beudou

Martin

Ryschawy

2017

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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In France, researchers and public policy makers are calling for the agroecological transition of livestock. This transition is facing technical, economic, social, and cultural obstacles. Whereas technical obstacles are extensively studied, other categories remain little studied despite their potential role in agroecological transition of livestock. This article aims to analyze the livestock cultural and territorial vitality (dis)services perceived by local actors on two distinct French territories and to understand how these services could act as levers for the agroecological transition of livestock. To do so, we interviewed 45 local actors from the livestock sector and local rural development in two French territories: Aubrac (24) and Pays de Rennes (21). We conducted inductive content analyses to draw on interviewees' perceptions and link the cultural and territorial vitality services identified to the agroecological transition of livestock. Our work revealed 20 cultural and territorial vitality services that can be organized into 11 categories (7 categories of cultural services and 4 categories of territorial vitality services). Among the 11 cultural services, cultural landscapes linked to livestock and gastronomy heritage were the most cited. Among the nine territorial vitality services, the contribution to social bonds on the territories was the most cited. Here, we showed for the first time that the prioritization of cultural and territorial vitality services were different between the territories studied. Emblematic cow breed, food know-how, and quality products were more important in Aubrac, whereas territorial vitality services such as on-farm jobs and social bonds linked to livestock were more cited in the Pays de Rennes. Such methodological approach allowed us to highlight and prioritize the different cultural and vitality services, which need to be supported by public policy and translated into action.

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“…To date, SA programs are still few in comparison to traditional productionagriculture programs at LGUs. SA education grapples with the necessary shift in emphasis from teaching how to maximize production to teaching how to optimize for a suite of environmental, social, and economic objectives (Francis et al, 2003).…”

Section: The Role Of the Lgu Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Agriculture Undergraduate Degree Programs: A Land-Grant University Mission

Jacobsen

Niewolny

Schroeder-Moreno

et al. 2012

JAFSCD

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Agroecology: The Ecology of Food Systems

Cited by 669 publications

References 14 publications

Forty research issues for the redesign of animal production systems in the 21st century

Forty research issues for the redesign of animal production systems in the 21st century

Cultural and territorial vitality services play a key role in livestock agroecological transition in France

Sustainable Agriculture Undergraduate Degree Programs: A Land-Grant University Mission

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