agroecology

[ag-roh-i-kol-uh-jee, ee-kol-]

noun

1. the application of ecological principles to agriculture, with attention to how agricultural practice will affect habitats or ecosystems.

   Peasant farming is feeding the world and capable of cooling the planet through agroecology and a respect for biodiversity.

Other Word Forms

• agroecological adjective
• agroecologically adverb
• agroecologist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of agroecology¹

First recorded in 1930–35; agro- ( def. ) + ecology ( def. )

Example Sentences

He studied Agroecology at University of Santa Cruz under organic gardening and farming pioneer Alan Chadwick, who founded the school’s “French-intensive” garden in 1967.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Dr Annika Haß and Professor Catrin Westphal at Göttingen University's Functional Agrobiodiversity & Agroecology Research Group add: "In addition to these measures, high connectivity between quarries and neighbouring calcareous grasslands is crucial. This makes it easier for bees to move between the two habitats. Preserving and restoring nutrient-poor grasslands and maintaining quarries are good ways to support and conserve wild bees."

Read more on Science Daily

"Tracking these nitrogen losses, and trying to mitigate them, requires an approach that links economics, agroecology and hydrology to ensure that actions at one point in the chain do not have unintended consequences at another point."

Read more on Science Daily

He said he believes promoting more local agriculture would help, along with adopting farming methods that work with nature, including the sustainable techniques of agroecology and permaculture.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Gliessman, a retired agroecology professor at UC Santa Cruz, said the lawsuit led residents who were previously supportive of the carrot companies to see them in a new light.

Read more on Los Angeles Times