Agroecology and the Transition to Sustainable Food Systems

Agroecology is not a new invention. It has already been applied for decades in family farmers’ practices and has guided both policymakers and grassroots social movements in various countries around the world. However, recent global discussions on agroecology across its three different dimensions, namely scientific discipline, agricultural practice and political-social movement, have became more intense and broader.

Agroecology is fundamentally different from other approaches to sustainable development. It is based on bottom-up, territorial and interdisciplinary processes aiming to deliver contextualized solutions to local problems. Agroecological innovations are based on the co-creation of knowledge by combining traditional, practical and local know-how with scientific evidence and expertise. Agroecology strives to empower farmers and other food system actors as key agents of change.

This online series aimed to offer the interested public a deeper insight into the fundamentals of agroecology and its potential role in transforming food systems. Each lecture brought together perspectives from science, practice and policy to provide insight on agroecological fundamentals as well as societal aspects. Transdisciplinary exchange to bridge cutting edge science with industrial and societal needs as well as political realities was emphasized. The whole of the series was structured along the ten elements of agroecology, proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Each element was discussed in depth for one lecture, with scientific inputs from researchers from ETH Zurich and partner institutions enriched with actors from society and industry.

We thank the 43 contributors for sharing their insights and time with the audience of over 1000 participants during the entire series in 2021. We look forward to bringing you a new series in autumn 2022.