The Role of Agroecology in Food Security in Developing Countries
Abstract views: 37
/ 
PDF downloads: 27
Keywords:
Agroecology, Food Security, Climate Resilience, Developing Countries, Smallholder FarmersAbstract
Global food security is one of the most ambitious goals. However, we are currently facing
numerous challenges, including loss of biodiversity, climate change, increasing price volatility,
environmental pollution, and resource degradation. Agroecology is one of the main approaches that can
make it easy to reach food security by reducing reliance on chemical inputs, preserving biodiversity,
emphasizing diverse cropping systems, improving soil health, and better water management. This review
highlights the critical role of agroecology in achieving food security, particularly in regions where
conventional farming methods have often exacerbated environmental degradation, depleted soils, and
heightened vulnerability to climate change. Agroecological practices such as diversified cropping, organic
inputs, and reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers contribute to healthier soils, increased
biodiversity, and more sustainable food production. Additionally, it addresses key challenges and barriers
to widespread adoption of agroecology. Finally, the study concludes that agroecology holds immense
potential in reshaping global food systems and fostering long-term resilience by giving recommendations
to smaller farmers and developing nations.
Downloads
References
FAO. (1996). Rome Declaration on World Food Security and World Food Summit Plan of Action. World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996, Rome, Italy. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/w3613e/w3613e00.htm.
Gunaratne, M. S., Radin Firdaus, R. B., & Rathnasooriya, S. I. (2021). Climate change and food security in Sri Lanka: towards food sovereignty. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8(1), 229. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00917-4
Briony RavenA MIntDev, B., Rochelle Stewart-WithersB, C. P., & PGDipNurs, P., BN, RCompN. (2019). Using critical discourse analysis and the concept of food security to understand pregnant women’s nutrition in Aotearoa/New Zealand New Zealand College of Midwives Journal, (55).
Wudu, K., Abegaz, A., Ayele, L., & Ybabe, M. (2023). The impacts of climate change on biodiversity loss and its remedial measures using nature based conservation approach: a global perspective. Biodiversity and Conservation, 32(12), 3681-3701. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-023-02656-1
Sylvester, F., et al. (2023). Better integration of chemical pollution research will further our understanding of biodiversity loss. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 7(10), 1552-1555. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02117-6
Li, X., Chen, S., & Wang, S. (2023). Economic growth, government efficiency, and biodiversity loss: an international trade perspective. Environment, Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-04059-2
Rezaei, E. E., et al. (2023). Climate change impacts on crop yields. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 4(12), 831-846. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00491-0
Dablander, F., et al. (2024). Climate change engagement of scientists. Nature Climate Change, 14(10), 1033-1039. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02091-2
Brander, M., Bernauer, T., & Huss, M. (2023). Trade policy announcements can increase price volatility in global food commodity markets. Nature Food, 4(4), 331-340. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-023-00729-6
Moslehpour, M., et al. (2023). RETRACTED ARTICLE: The moderating impact of government support on the relationship between tourism development and growth, natural resources depletion, sociocultural degradation, economic environment, and pollution reduction: case of Indonesian economy. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(19), 56863-56878. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26231-x
Sibanda, K., Garidzirai, R., Mushonga, F., & Gonese, D. (2023). Natural Resource Rents, Institutional Quality, and Environmental Degradation in Resource-Rich Sub-Saharan African Countries. Sustainability, 15(2), 1141. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1141
Leal Filho, W., et al. (2023). How the War in Ukraine Affects Food Security. Foods, 12(21), 3996. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/21/3996
Hassoun, A., et al. (2024). From acute food insecurity to famine: how the 2023/2024 war on Gaza has dramatically set back sustainable development goal 2 to end hunger [Review]. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1402150
Foini, P., Tizzoni, M., Martini, G., Paolotti, D., & Omodei, E. (2023). On the forecastability of food insecurity. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 2793. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29700-y
Mugambiwa, S., & , & Makhubele , J. (2023). Rethinking the nexus of food insecurity, climate change and migration in the developing world: A case of Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478), 12(1), 249–253. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v12i1.2083.
Ibrahim Isse, A., & Ahmed, A. H. (2024). Agricultural Supply Chains:Challenges and Opportunities for Agribusiness in Afgoye, Lower Shabelle, Somalia. Scientific Research Communications, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.52460/src.2024.006
Prost, L., et al. (2023). Key research challenges to supporting farm transitions to agroecology in advanced economies. A review. Agronomy for sustainable development, 43(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00855-8
Dagunga, G., et al. (2023). Agroecology and resilience of smallholder food security: a systematic review [Systematic Review]. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1267630
Mouratiadou, I., et al. (2024). The socio-economic performance of agroecology. A review. Agronomy for sustainable development, 44(2), 19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-024-00945-9
Garcia-Oliveira, P., Fraga-Corral, M., Carpena, M., Prieto, M. A., & Simal-Gandara, J. (2021). Approaches for sustainable food production and consumption systems. Future Foods: Global Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainability Challenges. Academic Press, pp. 23–38 https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91001-9.00006-2.
Ewert, F., Baatz, R., & , & Finger, R. (2023). Agroecology for a Sustainable Agriculture and Food System: From Local Solutions to Large-Scale Adoption. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 15(1), 351–381. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-resource-102422-090105.
HLPE. (2019). A report by The High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition. https://www.agroecology-europe.org/our-approach/principles/.
Vogel, C., et al. (2023). The effects of crop type, landscape composition and agroecological practices on biodiversity and ecosystem services in tropical smallholder farms. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60(5), 859–874. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14380.
Akanmu, A. O., Akol, A. M., Ndolo, D. O., Kutu, F. R., & Babalola, O. O. (2023). Agroecological techniques: adoption of safe and sustainable agricultural practices among the smallholder farmers in Africa [Review]. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1143061
Europe, A. (2021). Integrating agroecology into European agricultural policies. Position paper and recommendations to the European Commission on Eco-schemes: 8 pp.
Tittonell, P. (2023). Why Agroecology, Why Systems, Why Now? In A Systems Approach to Agroecology (pp. 3-41). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42939-2_1
Tirado MC, Vivero-Pol JL, Bezner Kerr R, & K, K. (2021). Feasibility and effectiveness assessment of multi-sectoral adaptation for food security and nutrition. Curr Clim Change Rev 2021, 8:35-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-022-00181-x.
Bezner Kerr R, et al. (2021). Can agroecology improve food security and nutrition? A review. Glob Food Secure, 29:100540.
Bharucha ZP, Mitjans SB, & J, P. (2020). Towards redesign at scale through zero-budget natural farming in Andhra Pradesh, India. Int J Agric Sustain 2020, 18:1-20.
Brumer, A., Wezel, A., Dauber, J., Breland, T. A., & Grard, B. (2023). Development of agroecology in Austria and Germany. Open Res Eur, 3, 25. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.15431.1
Chavez-Miguel, G., et al. (2024). Local food system resilience in the context of shocks and crises: vulnerabilities and responses of agroecology-based farmers in Peru, Germany, and the United States. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 48(6), 876-897. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2024.2341987
Schiavo, M., Le Mouël, C., Poux, X., & Aubert, P.-M. (2023). The land use, trade, and global food security impacts of an agroecological transition in the EU [Original Research]. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1189952
Niederle, P., et al. (2023). Ruptures in the agroecological transitions: institutional change and policy dismantling in Brazil. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 50(3), 931-953. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2022.2055468
Singh, M., et al. (2023). Indigenous chicken production system in different agro-ecology of Indian Himalayan Region: implication on food and economic security [Original Research]. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1244413
Marfurt, F., Haller, T., & Bottazzi, P. (2023). Green Agendas and White Markets: The Coloniality of Agroecology in Senegal. Land, 12(7), 1324. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/7/1324
Vall, E., et al. (2023). Crop-livestock synergies and by-products recycling: major factors for agroecology in West African agro-sylvo-pastoral systems. Agronomy for sustainable development, 43(5), 70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-023-00908-6
FAO. (2014). The State of Family Farming in the World. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/family-farming/en/.
FAO. (2014). The State of Food and Agriculture: Innovation in Family Farming. Rome: FAO. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/i3940e/i3940e.pdf.
Paracchini, M. L., et al. (2020). Agroecological practices supporting food production and reducing food insecurity in developing countries - A study on scientific literature in 17 countries. EUR 30329 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2020, ISBN 978-92-76-21077-1. https://doi.org/10.2760/82475, JRC121570.
Thornton, P. K., Ericksen, P. J., Herrero, M., & Challinor, A. J. (2014). Climate variability and vulnerability to climate change: a review. Glob Chang Biol, 20(11), 3313-3328. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12581
Deguine, J.-P., et al. (2023). Chapter One - Agroecological crop protection for sustainable agriculture. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Advances in Agronomy (Vol. 178, pp. 1-59). Academic Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2022.11.002
Peeters, A., Wezel, A., & Migliorini, P. (2018). Challenges and Action Points to Amplify Agroecology in Europe. Sustainability, 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051598
López-García, D., & Carrascosa-García, M. (2024). Sustainable food policies without sustainable farming? Challenges for agroecology-oriented farmers in relation to urban (sustainable) food policies. Journal of Rural Studies, 105, 103160. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103160
Ahmed, I., et al. (2024). Yield stability among potato varieties suitable for different agroecological regions of Bangladesh. Heliyon, 10(11). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31633
Rana, M. M., Haque, M. R., Tasnim, S. S., & Rahman, M. M. (2023). The potential contribution of microplastic pollution by organic fertilizers in agricultural soils of Bangladesh: quantification, characterization, and risk appraisals [Original Research]. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1205603
Payne, W., et al. (2011). On-farm biological control of the pearl millet head miner: realization of 35 years of unsteady progress in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 9(1), 186-193. https://doi.org/10.3763/ijas.2010.0560
Ouédraogo, E., Mando, A., & Zombré, N. P. (2001). Use of compost to improve soil properties and crop productivity under low input agricultural system in West Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 84(3), 259-266. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(00)00246-2
Ayivor, J. S., Pabi, O., Ofori, B. D., Yirenya-Taiwiah, D. R., & Gordon, C. (2016). Agro-diversity in the forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana: a strategy for food security against climatic and socio-economic stressors. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 6(1), 1-12. .
Kodeboyina, V., & Teki Visweswara, R. (2024). Perspective Chapter: Agroecology-Based Natural Farming in India. In D. Subhan, H. Shabir, A. Niaz, & R. Ashfaq Ahmad (Eds.), Updates on Organic Farming (pp. Ch. 2). IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.113972
Susanti, W. I., Cholidah, S. N., & Agus, F. (2024). Agroecological Nutrient Management Strategy for Attaining Sustainable Rice Self-Sufficiency in Indonesia. Sustainability, 16(2), 845. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/2/845
Rogé, P., et al. (2017). Perennial grain crops in the West Soudanian Savanna of Mali: perspectives from agroecology and gendered spaces. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 15(5), 555-574. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1372850
Bright, M. B. H., et al. (2017). Long-term Piliostigma reticulatum intercropping in the Sahel: Crop productivity, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and soil quality. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 242, 9-22. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.03.007
Trail, P., et al. (2016). Evaluating Intercropping (Living Cover) and Mulching (Desiccated Cover) Practices for Increasing Millet Yields in Senegal. AGRONOMY JOURNAL 108, 1742–1752. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2015.0422.
