A comparative overview of agroecology in five regions: towards holistic and transdisciplinary integration

Abstract

Agroecology is a science and practice that studies and promotes sustainable agricultural systems, based on ecological principles, that integrate biodiversity, natural cycles and biological processes to produce food efficiently, respecting and improving the health of soil, water, biodiversity and human well-being. This study presents a comparative analysis of the bibliographic production around agroecology between 2010 and the beginning of 2023, in five regions: Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Through a search in various databases using specific terms, a wide range of information was identified, which was then delimited to 40 documents per region. The hermeneutic method was used to read and interpret the documents and to highlight the methods, approaches, themes and challenges addressed by the authors in relation to agroecology in each region. In this regard, it can be deduced that agroecology is becoming a crucial science, addressing fundamental global challenges such as climate change and food security, as well as progressive solutions to food shortages, poverty and inequity.  Its consolidation as a holistic and transdisciplinary science reflects its maturity and capacity to offer comprehensive solutions to complex problems.