From page 17
TERMINOLOGY
climates within the system to
optimise soil fertility and
increase synergies (Altieri
2005).
These approaches involve
the maintenance or intro-
duction of agricultural
biodiversity (diversity of
crops, livestock, agroforestry,
fish, pollinators, insects, soil
biota and other components
that occur in and around
production systems) to
achieve the desired results in
production and sustainability.
In practical terms,
agroecologists practise:
K Crop rotation: Temporal
diversity incorporated into
cropping systems, providing
crop nutrients and breaking
the life cycles of several
insect pests, diseases and
weed life cycles.
K Polycultures: Complex
cropping systems in which
two or more crop species are
planted close together, which
results in competition or
complementation, thereby
enhancing yields.
K Agroforestry systems: An
agricultural system in which
trees are grown together with
annual crops and/or animals,
resulting in enhanced
complementary relations
between components.
K Cover crops: The use of
pure or mixed stands of
legumes or other annual
plant species under fruit trees
for the purpose of improving
soil fertility, enhancing
biological control of pests
and modifying the orchard
microclimate.
K Animal integration in
agro-ecosystems, which aids
in achieving high biomass
output and recycling.
All of the above diversified
forms of agro-ecosystems
maintain vegetative cover as
an effective soil and water
conserving measure, met
through the use of no-till
practices, mulch farming and
use of cover crops and other
appropriate methods. They
also provide a regular supply
of organic matter through
the addition of organic
matter (manure, compost,
and promotion of soil biotic
activity). They enhance
nutrient recycling mecha-
nisms through the use of
livestock systems based on
legumes, etc and promote
pest regulation through
enhanced activity of
biological control agents,
achieved by introducing
and/or conserving natural
enemies and antagonists.
The concept of food
sovereignty is particularly
important in this method of
agriculture. Agroecologists
state: “Food sovereignty is
the right of peoples to
healthy and culturally
appropriate food produced
through ecologically sound
and sustainable methods,
and their right to define their
own food and agriculture
systems. It puts those who
produce, distribute and
consume food at the heart
of food systems and policies,
rather than the demands of
markets and corporations. It
defends the interests and
inclusion of the next
generation. It offers a
strategy to resist and
dismantle the current
corporate trade and food
regime, and directions for
food, farming, pastoral and
fisheries systems determined
by local producers. Food
sovereignty prioritises local
and national economies and
markets and empowers
peasant and family farmer-
driven agriculture, artisanal
fishing, pastoralist-led
grazing, and food produc-
tion, distribution and
consumption based on
environmental, social and
economic sustainability.
Food sovereignty promotes
transparent trade that
guarantees just income to all
peoples and the rights of
consumers to control their
food and nutrition . ”
( F rom the Declaration of
Nyéléni).
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