Agriculture has for fed the world for thousands of years and supplied enormous quantities of food to meet the needs of Earth's burgeoning population. But conventional agriculture has also caused a lot of problems, called externalities, such as massive deforestation, water scarcities, biodiversity loss, soil depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions. Because of these externalities, agricultural practices are often less than sustainable.
Agroecology, the subject of the Season 3, Episode 16 'A Window on Science' podcast, strives to balance productivity with the health of people and the environment. José Manuel Ávila-Castuera, Agroecology Coordinator at the LifeWatch ERIC ICT-Core in Seville, explains that it is an integrated approach that applies ecological and social concepts and principles to farming in a sustainable way, working with nature and with people. It seeks to optimise the interaction between plants, animals, humans and the environment, taking into consideration social aspects.
The LifeWatch ERIC virtual research environment is helping to improve decision-making processes, working with the research community, other Research Infrastructures, with policy makers, with farmers and with consumers to push for and foster an agroecological transition that will contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices. Support for this transition comes from many sides, not least from the European Commission's Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy.
Agriculture has for fed the world for thousands of years and supplied enormous quantities of food to meet the needs of Earth's burgeoning population. But conventional agriculture has also caused a lot of problems, called externalities, such as massive deforestation, water scarcities, biodiversity loss, soil depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions. Because of these externalities, agricultural practices are often less than sustainable.
Agroecology, the subject of the Season 3, Episode 16 'A Window on Science' podcast, strives to balance productivity with the health of people and the environment. José Manuel Ávila-Castuera, Agroecology Coordinator at the LifeWatch ERIC ICT-Core in Seville, explains that it is an integrated approach that applies ecological and social concepts and principles to farming in a sustainable way, working with nature and with people. It seeks to optimise the interaction between plants, animals, humans and the environment, taking into consideration social aspects.
The LifeWatch ERIC virtual research environment is helping to improve decision-making processes, working with the research community, other Research Infrastructures, with policy makers, with farmers and with consumers to push for and foster an agroecological transition that will contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices. Support for this transition comes from many sides, not least from the European Commission's Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy.