Nama: Dicki Alzi Pratama

Nim : 1805101050076

Prodi : Agroteknologi Stefano Bocchi, Marta Maggi

Agro-ecology, sustainable agro-food systems,

new relationships between the countryside
and the city

1. A brief history of agroecology

The term agroecology was used for the first time in 1928 by Bensin, a
Russian agrono-mist. He used this term to indicate the application of ecology
to agriculture. In the same period others authors published papers or books
dealing with agroecology, but without mentioning the word. Examples are
Klages(1928), a US agronomist interested in the distribution of crop plants
using a physiological basis, and Azzi, an Italian scientist who published in 1928
a book on “Agricultural ecology”, laying down the foundation of his later work
(Azzi 1942: 1956). The latter in particular, concentrated on environmental
aspects, such as climate and soil, in relation to agricultural plants development
and growth. Both these two scientists, while not using the term agroecology,
may be considered the pioneers of the discipline.

Between the 1930s and 1960s, different other works were published in
which the term agroecology was explicitly used or which applied the meanings
of agroecology leading in that period (Bensin 1930; Tischler 1965). From the
1970s, also as a response to the Green Revolution and to the consequent
intensification and specialization of agriculture, there was an increasing interest
for ecology applied to agriculture. It was in this period that the concept of
agroecosystems, as domesticated ecosystems, emerged (Odum 1969) and that
critics to agricultural technology began (erlich 1966; meAdOwseT Al. 1972).

From the 1980s, Altieri (1989) first and Gliessman (1997) later,
started to define agroecology as an approach to protect natural resources
and to design and manage sustainable agroecosystems. Gradually
agroecology started contributing to the concept of sustainability applied to
agriculture (ThOmAs, KevAn 1993). In this period the biodiversity theme
emerged (e.g. AlTieri 1999) and the words soil and landscape started to be
used (e.g. sTeiner, OsTermAn 1988) in the framework of agroecology related
publications.

In the course of the twentieth century, as the meaning of agroecology

as a scientific discipline evolved, its identity changed as well. According to
Wezel et al. (2009), starting from the 1990s, it also became a movement and
a practice. Indeed, in this period, the term agroecology started to be used to
define a new way to consider agriculture and its relationships with society,
i.e. a movement. At the same time agroecology was recognized as a set of
practices aimed at developing a more environmental-friendly and
sustainable agriculture, as an alternative to high input, chemical intensive
agriculture.

Moreover, as agroecological research approaches emerged, several

scientific works were published and education programs put into motion, in
USA, but in Europe too (FrAnciseT Al. 2011). In particular agroecology became
more and more interdisciplinary, as confirmed also by some authors (e.g.
dAlgAArdeT Al. 2003; BuTTel 2007). Indeed, over time, more disciplines were
involved besides agronomy and ecology, such as zoology, botany, plant
physiology, and last but not least geography and socio-economics.

2. Agroecology today: a new approach to the land

Today agroecology embodies a new multidisciplinary, inter-sectoral and

multi-scalar approach to territorial studies and a rigorous strategy to establish
a new countrytown relationship. Indeed, on one hand it provides a more
current vision of agriculture and farming systems that influences the
development of management, monitoring and planning tools. On the other
hand it offers a different key for rethinking the relation between agricultural
issues and society.

With reference to the first aspect, the more strictly scientific,

agroecology today has as its primary objective the sustainable management of
all resources involved in the process of agricultural production and the
protection of the landscape (BOcchieT Al. 2012). It therefore discloses, for
example, the importance of agro-ecological networks and many cities are
planning new arrangements to strengthen these structures. Another major
concern of agroecology today is agro-biodiversity, considered as a primary
agroecosystems component and a source of ecosystem services (MEA 2005).
On the basis of different studies that have demonstrated the effects of
agricultural intensification on farmland birds (dOnAldet al. 2006), on plant
species within agro-ecosystems (KleijneT Al. 2009; uemATsueT Al. 2010), on
farm ecosystem quality measured as abundance of species (reidsmAeT Al.
2006). European policies have implemented agro-environmental measures and
interventions. One example is the identification of High Nature Value Farmland
(EEA 2004, dOxAeT Al. 2012, hAlAdAeT Al. 2011), within which the agricultural
practices and the care of the agricultural landscape is likely to have a positive
impact on agro-biodiversity and biodiversity in general (mOOnen, BArBeri
2008). Similar measures and policies need to be further developed.

Agroecology, however, also implies new perspectives in the relationship

between agriculture and society. In the last decades the food system has
become the new focus of agroecology research that from the plot and field
scales has gradually moved its spatial scale of application to the farm and
agroecosystem scales, up towards the whole food system scale. Already in
1980 Altieri pointed agroecology as a discipline useful to alleviate natural
resources degradation and malnourishment, and to enhance local food
systems functions. In 2003 FrAnciset al. define agroecology as ‘an integrative
study of the ecology of the entire food systems, encompassing ecological,
economic and social dimensions’. In 2007 Gliessman provides a definition of
agroecology as ‘the science of applying ecological concepts and principles to
the design and management of sustainable food systems’. In this context
agroecology offers the conceptual foundations for the new notions of
foodshed and alternative food networks (PAül, mcKenzie 2013; renTingeT Al.
2003), both having as a goal the ecological sustainability of food systems and
the achievement of a new balance between available natural resources,
society demands, agricultural production.

The growing body of research on foodshed, defined as the geographic

areas that feed population centers (Peterset Al. 2010:stagl 2002) or potentially
meet the demand for food and services of a resident population (swaneyetai.
2011), can provide insights into social, economic and environmental issues
such as the promotion of policies for security and food sovereignty (BocchieT
Al. 2012), fossil energy depletion and climate change. Moreover, even though
the original meaning of foodshed refers to the food system in general, the
term often connotes a connection to local food and market systems (edwards-
joneseT Al. 2008). In fact, starting from the local resources and characters of
the territory, the aim is to formulate and manage complex bioregional systems
that not only reduce the negative impacts of agriculture on the society, the
economy, the environment, but that can also benefit from new possible
couplings between production, settlements, food, infrastructural and
recreational systems, with mutual interests. Take for example the possible use
of waste in school canteens by farmers who provide food to them. It is on such
possible couplings that the great debate on the so-called food-sensitive cities
is developing, involving the implementation of projects or programs depicting
relationships, even spatial relationships, including production, transportation,
consumption and recycling/recovery and that draw our attention to the need
to train new professionals (es. food city manager). In conclusion, the new food
supply systems, whether alternative or local, are supported by the request on
one side of good quality food, and on the other from that of a shorter
distance, which is not only spatial, between producers and consumers. In this
context, agroecology can and must support spatial planning in the
management of green spaces within and outside the city, making it possible
agriculture to live together with settlements. By means of proposals for a more
sustainable management of resources involved in the agricultural production
processes and by exploiting the potentialities of the area, agroecology can thus
provide the scientific answer to an emerging and increasingly widespread
demand for environmental and food quality: for the recovery of local
traditions and knowledge; for the reduction of inefficiencies, wastes, distances
between towns and peri-urban agricultural areas.
3.sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is an agricultural movement using ecological
principles, studies of the relationship between organisms and their
environment.sustainable agriculture has been defined as an integrated system
between plant and animal production practices in a location and in the long
run has the following functions:

-Meet the needs of food and human fiber

-Improve the quality of the environment and natural resources based on
agricultural economic needs
-Using non-renewable natural resources very efficiently
-Use resources available on agricultural land in an integrated manner, and
utilize biological controls and cycle if possible
-Improve the quality of life of farmers and the community as a whole

But the stage towards sustainable agriculture is often seen as a stage

and not as an end. Some consider that true sustainable agriculture is
economically sustainable which is achieved by: less energy use, minimal
ecological footprint, fewer packaging goods, widespread local purchases with
short food supply chains, fewer processed foodstuffs more community gardens
and home gardens, and so on

But the stage towards sustainable agriculture is often seen as a stage

and not as an end. Some consider that true sustainable agriculture is
economically sustainable which is achieved by: less energy use, minimal
ecological footprint, fewer packaging goods, expanded local purchases with
shorter food supply chains, fewer processed food ingredients, more
community gardens and home gardens, and so on.

Sustainable agriculture is a farming method that integrates

comprehensively the environmental and socio-economic aspects of agricultural
communities. A farming mechanism that can meet the criteria of (1) economic
benefits; (2) social benefits for the family of the farmer and the community;
and (3) sustainable environmental conservation. In its implementation,
sustainable agriculture is synonymous with organic farming.

Sustainable agriculture aims to break the dependence of farmers on

external inputs and market authorities that dominate agrarian resources.
Sustainable agriculture is an important stage in rearranging the agrarian
structure and building an agricultural economic system that is synergistic
between production and distribution within the framework of agrarian reform

4. urban agriculture

Most cities in developing countries have great difficulties in overcoming this

development and cannot create sufficient formal employment for the poor.
They also have increased problems with the disposal of urban waste and
wastewater, as well as reducing quality air and river water. Urban agriculture
provides complementary strategies to reduce urban poverty and food
insecurity and improve urban environmental management. Urban agriculture
plays an important role in increasing urban food security because the costs of
providing and distributing food to urban areas based on rural production and
imports continue to increase, and do not meet demand, especially from the
poor. Apart from food security, urban agriculture is a contribution to local
economic development, poverty alleviation and social inclusion in the urban
poor and women in particular, as well as reforesting the city and reusing the
use of urban waste. The importance of urban agriculture is increasingly
recognized by international organizations such as UN-Habitat and FAO (World
Food and Agriculture Organizations).

Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems is devoted to the rapidly

emerging fields of agroecology and sustainable agriculture. The journal focuses
on the changes that need to occur in the design and management of our food
systems in order to balance natural resource use and environmental protection
with the needs of production, economic viability, and social well-being.
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems examines our current food systems
from production to consumption, and the urgent need to transition to long-
term sustainability. The journal promotes the study and application of
sustainable agriculture for solutions to the complex problems of resource
depletion, environmental degradation, a narrowing of agrobiodiversity,
continued world hunger, climate change, and the loss of farm land. Rather
than focus on separate disciplinary components of agriculture and food
systems, this journal uses an interdisciplinary approach to food production as
one process in a complex landscape of agricultural production, conservation,
and human interaction. The Journal features articles on topics such as:
innovative practices; new technology; IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
programs; organic and biodynamic farming; sustainable energy use; economic,
social, and philosophical aspects of sustainable agriculture; linking
conservation and agriculture; landscape agroecology; agriculture and global
climate change; indicators of sustainability; sustainable farm policy; future
projections. The journal offers national and international coverage and
features articles on specific disciplines and interdisciplinary studies. Also
included are book reviews, news watch, announcements, dialogue (positions,
opinions, commentary, and letters), and topical reviews.

References

AlTieri M. (1980), Agroecology: The Science of Sustainable Agriculture,

Westview Press, Boulder CO.
AlTieri M. (1989), “Agroecology: A new research and development paradigm
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AlTieri M. (1999), “The ecological role of biodiversity in agroecosystems”,

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, n. 74, pp. 19-31.

Azzi G. (1928), Ecologia Agraria, Tipografia Editrice Torinese, Torino.

Azzi G. (1942), Ecologia Agraria, Edizioni Dante Alighieri, Città di Castello.

Azzi G. (1956) Agricultural ecology, Constable & Company, London.

Bensin B. (1928), Agroecological characteristics description and classification of

the local corn varieties chorotypes, s.e..
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BOcchi S., chrisTiAnsen S., Oweis T., POrrO A., sAlA S. (2012), “Research for the
innovation of the agro-food system in international cooperation”, Italian
Journal of Agronomy, n. 7, pp. 262-273.

Thomas v.g. Kevan P.g. (1993), “Basic principles of agroecology and sustainable
agriculture”, Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, n. 6, pp. 1-19.

Tischler w. (1965), Agrarökologie, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena. uematsu y.,

koga.T.ushimaru A. (2010), “Abandonment and intensified use of agricultural
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wezel A., BellOn s., dOré T., FrAncis c., vAllOd d., dAvid c. (2009), “Agroecology
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Abstract
Today agroecology is recognized as a new scientific paradigm useful to
respond to the new sustainability challenges of both the agriculture and the
agro-food system domains. Aims and contents of this discipline have changed
over time and are still evolving today: conceptual tools and methodologies
offered by agroecology may be usefully adopted within interdisciplinary
studies related to sustainable production, consumption, exchange, settlement
systems.

In this paper we briefly review the history of agroecology and stress the
role it plays nowadays in managing food systems and in particular short-
distance food networks, intended as a new way the relationships between the
countryside and the city performs.

Keywords
Agroecology, discipline, history, local food systems, foodshed, city-
countryside.
Bios
Stefano Bocchi, Full Professor of Agronomy and Crop Science at the
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, State University of
Milan. His research interests focus on natural and agricultural resource
analysis, biodiversity, grass and pasture inventories, food security, food
sovereignty, sustainable local agro-food systems. Recently involved in the
Master Plan definition and Biodiversity Park for the next international EXPO
2015.

Affiliation: Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University

of Milano e-mail: stefano.bocchi@unimi.it
Marta Maggi, PhD in Environmental Sciences at Ecole Nationale du Génie des
Eaux et de Forets (Paris 2005). She is scientific collaborator at the Department
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, State University of Milan. Her
research interests focus on spatial analyses, agro-ecology, landscape
indicators, environmental land use change impacts. Affiliation: Department of
Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano e-mail:
m.martamaggi