Disseminating agroecological principles and practices for restoring biodiversity, enhancing climate adaptation and mitigation, and improving more sustainable food systems

Introduction

The ambition of this project is to promote the merits of agroecology and agroecological principles and practices, currently rather dispersed and heterogeneous in Europe, to European decision-makers, public opinion, and especially to the youth.

Objectives

This project also aims to further amplify the development of agroecology in Europe by:

1. Bringing together all stakeholders to share knowledge, methods, and experiences.
2. Fostering interactions between EU decision-makers, European NGOs, scientists, universities, research institutes, farmers, social movements, citizens, and young people.
3. Building together consistent EU agricultural and food policies for the transition.

Impact on Nature and Biodiversity

Agroecological principles and practices have a direct impact on nature, biodiversity, and climate mitigation and adaptation by:

• Restoring soil life.
• Improving organic matter management.
• Sequestering carbon in soils.
• Developing ecological networks through the redesign of farming and food systems in Europe.

Need for Change of Scale

If agroecology is context-specific and based on bottom-up approaches, Agroecology Europe believes that there is a need for a change of scale, both:

• Vertically - i.e., with European and national institutions.
• Horizontally - with a diversity of stakeholders, European NGOs, social actors, young farmers, and geographies.

Our association aims at scaling up and out these transition processes by building networks and communities across Europe who share common knowledge and experiences.