Why the American food system needs agroecology
Author: Dartmouth College
Published: 05/07/2024
Type of publication: News – Peer reviewed: Yeah
Content: Summary – Definition – Introduction – Major – Related
Synopsis: Agroecology, a science, practice, and movement that aims to achieve social, political, economic, and environmental sustainability in the global food system, is gaining ground in the United States. Proponents of agroecology say the American food system is dominated by industrial agriculture, which is characterized by monoculture production, reliance on agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, and advanced technology and machinery that rely heavily on fossil fuels. For decades, many in the United States and elsewhere have called for the transformation of the industrial food system. The United Nations has promoted agroecology as the mechanism for achieving that transformation. Despite its growing international reputation, agroecology was slow to gain recognition beyond academic circles in the United States.
Introduction
Agroecology, a science, practice and movement that seeks social, political, economic and environmental sustainability in the global food system, is gaining momentum in the U.S., according to a new Dartmouth-led commentary in Natural foodAs the co-authors note, this approach requires coordination between scientists, farmers and activists.
Main Summary
“When it comes to sustainable food and farming, people in the U.S. tend to be most familiar with organic farming, food production without synthetic inputs, and regenerative agriculture, which primarily seeks to restore soil health,” says lead author Theresa Ong, an assistant professor of environmental studies at Dartmouth.
“Agroecology is different in that it seeks to achieve ecological and social sustainability of food systems without sacrificing one for the other. We cannot save biodiversity and ecosystem integrity without also preserving farmers’ livelihoods and ensuring that the food systems we create provide food that is culturally relevant to local communities, and not simply to meet a calorie quota,” says Ong.
Proponents of agroecology say the American food system is dominated by industrial agriculture, which is characterized by monoculture production, reliance on agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, and advanced technology and machinery that rely heavily on fossil fuels.
Previous research has found that the challenges facing global food systems—including food insecurity, public health crises, biodiversity loss, and climate change—are perpetuated in part by the U.S. food system and the political influence of its major players.
Continued…
For decades, many in the United States and elsewhere have called for the transformation of the industrial food system. The United Nations has promoted agroecology as the mechanism for achieving that transformation.
Despite its growing international reputation, agroecology was slow to gain recognition beyond academic circles in the United States.
But USDA staff called on agroecologists to convene a U.S. Agroecology Summit in 2023, bringing together 100 food system stakeholders to discuss promoting such research in the country.
Participants discussed the need for equitable representation and support for all food system actors, including agricultural professionals, food system change-makers and scientists, and increased access to funding and ethical approaches to research.
“‘Food sovereignty’ – the right to define, produce and access healthy foods that are culturally appropriate and preserve farmers’ ways of life – is a fundamental goal of agroecology and was first defined by La Via Campesina, an international peasant movement, in 1996,” says Ong, who participated in the summit.
The Agroecology Summit builds on momentum that has been growing over the past 15 years, with the creation of the nonprofit US Food Sovereignty Alliance in 2010 and the enactment of food sovereignty laws in eight states (Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Georgia, North Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana). In addition, agroecology institutes were created at Florida A&M University in 2022 and at the University of Vermont in 2023.
There is still much work to be done to ensure that all voices are represented and empowered in this space, as they may share many of the same values and goals, such as large and small farmers, family farmers, migrant farmers, Black and Indigenous farmers, and farmworkers, according to the co-authors.
“Agroecology is about building coalitions to ensure equitable representation and coordination between farmers, activists and academics,” says Ong.
Collaborators
Antonio Román-Alcalá of California State University, East Bay; Estelí Jiménez-Soto of the University of South Florida; Erin Jackson of Colorado State University; Ivette Perfecto of the University of Michigan; and Hannah Duff of Montana State University also contributed to the commentary.
Protecting food crops from climate change and disruption: As climate and security crises continue to destabilize food sources, researchers are taking a critical look at how we produce food and the systems behind the food supply.
Attribution/Source(s):
This peer-reviewed publication entitled The transformation of the US food system: the urgent need for agroecology The editors of Disabled World selected this book for publication because of its relevance to the disabled community. While the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity, its original author was Dartmouth College and published on 07/05/2024. For further details or clarifications, you can contact Dartmouth College directly on dartmouth.edu Disabled World makes no warranties or endorsements related to this article.
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Cite this page (APA): Dartmouth College. (July 5, 2024). Transforming America’s food system: the urgent need for agroecology. Disabled worldRetrieved July 6, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/fitness/nutrition/foodsecurity/agroecology.php
Permanent link: Transforming America’s food system: the urgent need for agroecology: Agroecology, a science, practice and movement aimed at achieving social, political, economic and environmental sustainability in the global food system, is gaining traction in the U.S.
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