TWN Info Service on Sustainable Agriculture
13 October 2025
Third World Network

Dear Friends and Colleagues

How Agroecology in Latin America Strengthens Food Systems

“Building Bridges in agroecological knowledge” is an exploratory review on lessons learned from the Latin American practice of agroecology relevant to strengthening food systems.

A key finding is the integrality of agroecology in terms of both its performance and impact, as a result of the combined application of its ecological, social and political principles. Another important finding is agroecology’s capacity to restore ecosystem functions on which food production and livelihoods are based. Agroecology contributes to strengthening the communities that undertake it, including their ability to undertake cycles of action and reflection, thereby enhancing socioecological resilience of local agroecosystems.

The proposed priorities for immediate action are:

• Participatory and multi-stakeholder capacity building and support for the proper implementation of biodiverse production systems based on agroecological principles.
• Restoring water cycles with agroecological systems that integrate trees and locally adapted complementary infrastructure for water collection and storage.
• Establishing stable and coordinated market dynamics for the diversity of agroecological products of farmers and Indigenous Peoples.
• Strengthening local organization of small-scale farmers and Indigenous Peoples, for their active and effective participation in the stages of food systems.

With best wishes,

Third World Network

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BUILDING BRIDGES IN AGROECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

Exploratory review of lessons learned from Latin American practice of agroecology relevant to strengthening food systems

Georgina Catacora-Vargas

Commissioned by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC),

Report in Spanish: https://lnkd.in/e8CA_P6j

Report in English: https://lnkd.in/eySjCUY9

June 2025

Executive Summary

This review focuses on academic research and documented experience about agroecological processes in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean relevant for the strengthening of food systems in the face of the multiple current socioecological crises. The study has been structured by two guiding questions: (i) What lessons does Latin American agroecology offer to transforming food systems towards equity, health and resilience? and (ii) What are the contributions of agroecology in recognizing and strengthening the sovereignty of Indigenous food systems in Latin America? These questions have been addressed by applying the following methodology: First, review of the academic literature, from which 562 articles were analyzed in detail. Of these, sixty-three correspond to Indigenous food systems. Second, a survey of a selection of non-indexed literature (100 documents in total). Third, in-person consultations with representatives of nine Indigenous Peoples in four countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico.

The quantitative results (based on the 562 manuscripts reviewed in detail) show that the majority of agroecology research (89% or 499 articles) has content relevant to food systems transformation, while a more limited portion (11% or 63 articles), deal with different aspects of Indigenous food systems. Agroecology research relevant to food system transformation is concentrated in Brazil (43% of articles), Mexico (16%), Argentina (11%) and Colombia (9%), using empirical methods (82%) from different disciplines, mainly having a focus on technical and biophysical aspects (47%), or applying a multidimensional perspective (39%). The majority (61%) follow an integral approach to varying degrees, with the least systemic (i.e., multidisciplinary) being the most common (23%). On the other hand, empirical research tends to report short-term results (64%) at the farm level (37%), with a focus on agroecosystem design and management and/or market issues. Research focuses on farmers (65%), with a mixed gender perspective, addressing aspects related to both to men and women (39%), and a mixed generational approach (26% related to different age groups), with an emphasis on adults.

Regarding the literature relevant to the sovereignty of Indigenous food systems, the main countries of research are Mexico (47%), Ecuador (12%), Brazil (11%) and Colombia (8%). Empirical research (84%), multidimensional perspectives (64%) and integral approaches (83%) are also predominant, with transdisciplinarity being the most commonly applied approach (36%). Most research is short-term (59%). The design and management of agroecosystems is the main theme (54%), with particular emphasis on agroforestry. The majority of the reviewed articles have a mixed gender approach (60%), and the minority of them (5%) explicitly state the age on which the empirical research was focused.

The quantitative findings suggest that there are significant gaps in academic agroecological research in Central America, the Spanish-speaking Caribbean (with some exceptions in Cuba), and arid and semi-arid regions. Medium- and long-term empirical research is also an important gap, as is research on stages of food systems other than production and commercialization. From an actor perspective, knowledge of agroecology in relation to Afro-descendants, women, non-binary people, youth and children is quite limited.

The qualitative findings of the literature review suggests that the contributions of Latin American agroecology to the transformation of food systems are diverse. In terms of those aspects that cut across different perspectives, some of the contributions point to the integrality of agroecology in terms of both its performance and impact, as a result of the combined application of its ecological, social and political principles. An important result is agroecology’s capacity to restore ecosystem functions on which food production and livelihoods are based. Combined with the participatory processes of research and implementation of projects that promote it, agroecology thus contributes to strengthening the communities that undertake it, including their ability to undertake cycles of action and reflection, thereby enhancing socioecological resilience of local agroecosystems. The territorial approach to agroecology is increasingly being deployed to accelerate the complex socioecological and socio-political transformations that are needed for the sustainable management of food systems and landscapes. The findings point to the role of subnational governments in providing a potentially positive, direct and dynamic influence on agroecological initiatives and transitions.

As noted above, most agroecology research focuses on the production and commercialization stages. Regarding production, technical management receives more attention. The literature suggests that simple, effective and socially appropriate practices and innovations promote the adoption of agroecology and self-sufficiency, emphasizing that agroecology is about principles-based management of agroecosystems, not the application of practices that are predetermined or applied in isolation. From this perspective, the literature suggests that the establishment and management of biodiverse systems and the restoration of soil health are intrinsically linked, are multifunctional and trigger a wide range of positive socioecological effects. Similarly, the literature reports that the inclusion of the forestry component is essential to accelerate the transition, initiate restoration processes, and contribute to the reestablishment of water cycles. In terms of commercialization, the diversity of products from agroecological agroecosystems is mainly distributed through short-circuit dynamics that facilitate fairer access and pricing conditions for farmers and consumers, while contributing to the strengthening of local agency. Moreover, and in general, the literature shows that agroecological systems are more efficient, require less non-renewable energy and are more resilient and recover faster from extreme climate events. Because of its characteristics, agroecology is recognized as an appropriate strategy for the exercise of human rights and food citizenship.

The lessons of Latin American agroecology are also accompanied by multiple challenges. A key challenge reported in the literature relates to systems of trade, which favor conventional agriculture and food systems over agroecological food. Other important challenges include land tenure insecurity; the aging of the population and the abandonment of rural areas; public policies on agroecology that focus on controlling, rather than promoting, agroecology; the lack of professionals and technicians with solid knowledge in agroecology; the absence of appropriate direct financial support for agroecological transition and management; and the co-optation of agroecology. The literature also suggests little research or initiatives exist on agroecological seed production; there is a paucity of information on agroecological management in arid and semi-arid zones; a shortage of information on the contribution of agroecology to nutrition and healthy diets; and insufficient attention paid to the roles of both women and youth in amplifying agroecology, including the link between agroecology and childhood.

Regarding the contributions of Latin American agroecology to the recognition and strengthening of the sovereignty of Indigenous food systems, the ancestral knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and other traditional local communities is explicitly identified in the literature as being one of the roots of agroecological knowledge and relevant to the transformation of production and food systems. Other findings relate to the relevance of biocultural processes in establishing biodiverse agroecosystems. The literature emphasizes the interrelationship between the ecological and socioeconomic dimensions of agroecosystem management in Indigenous food systems. Such approaches constantly seek to reduce risks and strengthen resilience. Indigenous food systems are described as reproducers of the material and immaterial dimensions of life, making them holistic and sustainable. However, these strengths are accompanied by challenges such as the increasing loss of traditional knowledge and Indigenous seed varieties, especially in cold and arid areas as a result of climate change. Other challenges include the growing use of conventional agriculture in Indigenous territories, as well as the implementation of other extractive industries, all of which increase the degradation of ecosystems. The literature also points to the lack of infrastructure directly linking rural farms to markets and, thus, farmers’ reliance on intermediaries. Based on the latter, an important challenge in Indigenous food systems is to reach fair markets in a direct, organized and planned way, without weakening community food self-sufficiency.

These and other findings have, at least, the following implications for transforming food systems:

• The more agroecological the production systems are, the greater the potential for resilience and sustainability of self-reliant economies and the production of local healthy food.
• For agroecology to achieve its productive, restorative and conservation capacity, it is essential to establish biodiverse systems, particularly with the inclusion of trees, and to implement other agroecological management principles related to soil health.
• Agroecological transition also applies to technical and financial support systems, especially for grassroots-led initiatives and those generally neglected local processes.
• Restoring water cycles is a fundamental outcome of agroecological management at the agroecosystem and landscape levels, which, when reinforced by complementary locally adapted collection and storage infrastructures, contributes to water sovereignty.
• The agroecological transformation of food systems is not limited to agricultural production, but encompasses all its stages and therefore requires multidimensional and multisectoral action, including the health, environment and education sectors, among others.
• Strengthening agroecological markets is based on a solid local organization and fostering supportive relationships between farmers and consumers. This implies medium- and long-term processes.
• Agroecological processes involve local organization and the active and effective participation of the diversity of actors who are still marginalized, applying participatory pedagogies that promote exchange, co-construction of knowledge, self-reflection and agency.
• Amplifying agroecology requires multisectoral and multi-actor processes and different forms networking that begin with capacity building for the diversity of actors involved in the different stages of food systems, including public servants and policy makers. In order to visualize the importance of agroecology and to promote it by public administration institutions and the population in general, research and statistics are needed to contribute to the recognition of its ecological, economic, social and territorial relevance. This process requires a change in the methodologies used so that they effectively reflect the integrality of agroecological processes.
• Moving forward in transforming food systems through agroecology requires addressing several structural issues, such as access to different types of infrastructure, the approach of financing and incentives schemes, the curricula of basic and higher education, health priorities, and others. This calls for a multisectoral work at different levels of public administration and the diversity of civil society organizations and grassroots movements

Based on these implications, the proposed priorities for immediate action are:

• Participatory and multi-stakeholder capacity building and support for the proper implementation of biodiverse production systems based on agroecological principles.
• Restoring water cycles with agroecological systems that integrate trees and locally adapted complementary infrastructure for water collection and storage.
• Establish stable and coordinated market dynamics for the diversity of agroecological products of farmers and Indigenous Peoples.
• Strengthening the local organization of small-scale farmers and Indigenous Peoples, for their active and effective participation in the stages of food systems.

Participatory action research processes are relevant for the co-creation of knowledge that is meaningful for all participants and for supporting the management of many challenges that agroecology faces. In their implementation, it is important to take into account the need to strengthen the dialogue between agroecology and Indigenous food systems, as well as the fact that agroecology alone will not be able to solve all the complex challenges of food systems, such as those of a structural nature (e.g., in education and health systems) and infrastructure (communications and roads). This reality reinforces the proposal for multisectoral and articulate work to amplify agroecology.

Despite the challenges, adverse contexts and multiple needs, agroecology and its impacts show that it is an important strategy to promote transformative change in food systems. Latin America contributes to this change with many experiences and lessons on agroecology as a path for inclusive, healthy and resilient transformation.