WHY STUDY AGROECOLOGY?
THE INTERNATIONAL AGROECOLOGY LEARNING NETWORK, A COOPERATION OF DIFFERENT MASTERS OF AGROECOLOGY IDENTIFIED 6 SHIFTS REQUIRED FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE…
- Recognize and Accommodate to Natural Resources Limits and Global Climate Change
- Embrace and Adapt to Human Population in Balance with Available Resources
- Develop System that Rely on Appropriate Technologies and Local Resources
- Replace “Monoculture Mentality” with Diverse and Creative Thinking
- Overcome Institutional Stagnation in Education and Research Planning
- Evolve from Short-term “Anthropocentric” Focus to “Ecosystems” Thinking
…AND 12 PRINCIPLES WHICH WILL ENABLE TO GRADUATES TO DRIVE THESE SHIFTS.
- Use ecological principles to inform design of farming and food systems
- Adapt multi-criteria sustainability assessment of food systems
- Work with stakeholders to develop shared goals for sustainable development
- Recognize farmers experience as one valid contributor to farm system design
- Create holistic understanding for systems evaluation and future scenario design
- Combine methods from science with practical experience
- Integrate discipline-derived components into whole systems scenarios
- Use organic farming as a working model for sustainable agricultural systems
- Maximum use of contemporary resources in local food systems
- Emphasize social learning, autonomous activity, and lifelong education
- Recognize student experience as a key contribution to team learning
- Design learning to build capacity for future responsible action
