Within the YITEG project (Youth Impacting Transformative Economies through Game-design), we want to explain and enlighten different branches of Transformative Economies. Feminist economies, Communitarian economy, Commons, Social and Solidarity Economy have been identified by the local groups which worked on the Transformative Economies.
But why is agroecology a part of the social and agricultural transformation? How can we develop it into the agricultural main system? What impacts on society for humans and living things ?
If Transformative Economies aim to replace the living at the centre of human society, then we need to think about the agrosystem outside of monoculture, chemical inputs and agricultural practices post-world war II.
Why do we need to speak about agroecology ?
Between the 19th century and now, our Earth has lost a big part of its biodiversity… And soil is poorer than ever… The European Union claims to recover nature and soil since it’s essential for human life. Nature provides water and food for humans! And she also offers habitat for wildlife. However the current agricultural system destroys habitat, soil, and source of clean water…
That’s why we need to find another way to provide food for humans while regenerating the soil in order to offer habitat, food and clean water for all the living things! Moreover, Food Sovereignty is an important goal for the human race, not only because eating and sharing are primary needs for the human community but also because producing food locally is part of autonomy and resilience. That’s why, reclaiming our alimentation, with reproductible seeds and defending living soil also answer to social objectives such as equality, democracy and access to fundamental rights.
How to develop agroecological practices ?
First, we need to reconnect with the cycles of nature and the ecosystem. Agroecology has different practices like agroforestry, organic farming, cooperation between farmers and between farmers and wildlife. Appropriation or reappropriation of the knowledge of soil life is a big part to start a new reflection between production and consummation!
What impacts on society and planet ?
According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, Agroecology allows biodiversity, synergies, efficiency and resilience (against monoculture), co-creation and sharing of the knowledge (against the monopolisation of knowledges by multinationals), circular and solidarity economy, recycling, and provides human and social values, culture and food traditions and responsible governance. But this list isn’t exhaustive! You can learn more about impacts HERE !!
More information:
If you want more
What is agroecology? | Soil Association
Check out our map with some European initiatives on agroecology:
- ADDEAR Loire – France
- De la ferme au quartier – France
- Tzoumaker/high mountains – Greece
- Liveloula – Greece