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Glossary

Agroecology

According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), agroecology is the science of applying ecological concepts and principles to manage interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment with regard to food security and nutrition.

As part of the overarching concepts of sustainable and ecological intensification, agroecology is an important component in achieving a well-functioning agricultural and food system and thus fulfilling the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations). Agroecology can contribute a variety of appropriate solutions, including new technologies and traditional techniques, improved inputs and outputs, and the application of unique, locally coordinated, knowledge-based practices - not only in the cultivation, but also in the processing and marketing of food. It aims at a holistic and system-oriented management that includes social, cultural and political principles. A number of farming systems can be considered agroecological, including agroforestry and permaculture. Selected techniques and practices of agroecology (such as precision agriculture, integrated agriculture) are also adopted by productive agriculture and are elements of sustainable intensification. Therefore, agroecology is synergistic and does not compete with other efforts to make agriculture and food systems more sustainable.

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Terms from the glossary