Policy brief - Towards stronger agroecology in Europe. Exploring areas of consensus and friction around its defining principles, and call for action
Year: 2026
Type: other
Abstract: Agroecology has been defined based on generic agronomic, ecological, social, cultural and political principles, which aim to guide the transformation of farming and food systems towards enhanced sustainability and food sovereignty. It is, however, considered as a ‘territory of dispute’ due to the different sets of principles proposed by researchers, intergovernmental organisations (HLPE, 2019) and social movements (Nyéléni, 2015), which increase confusion and risks of co-optation (Luján Soto et al., 2026). To scale up agroecology and progress towards a stronger and more systemic approach of what is meant by agroecology in Europe, we need to identify areas of consensus and friction around its defining principles. Identifying areas of consensus helps build a better understanding of what ideas and values are shared by the European agroecology community and determine where the concept of agroecology can be updated with broad agreement. Understanding areas of friction should help define which conditions or actions could bring positions closer, and indicate domains which would amplify agroecology through broader recognition of their relevance. Overall, there was more of a consensus on how agroecology relates to biodiversity and socioeconomic resilience, than on its climate and social dimensions. We observed an emerging consensus onthe ban of agrotoxics, while developing technological innovations and challenging global power structures (e.g. corporate concentration, patriarchal relations, ownership and access to land, etc.) remain areas of friction.
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: green
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W7204145854