FAO'S 
    WORK ON 
    AGROECOLOGY
    A pathway to 
    achieving the SDGs 
       FAO'S WORK ON AGROECOLOGY
       CONTENTS
       PAGES 4-5
       INTRODUCTION
       PAGES 6-7
       KEY MESSAGES 
       PAGES 8-9
       AGROECOLOGY
       AND THE 2030 AGENDA 
       PAGES 10-11
       A GLOBAL DIALOGUE
       PAGES 12-19
       AGROECOLOGY IN ACTION
       PAGES 20-21
       FACTS AND FIGURES 
       PAGES 22-23
       AGROECOLOGY IN POLICY
       PAGES 24-26
       WAY FORWARD
       PAGE 27
       PUBLICATIONS 
       Cover photo: CHINA Landscape approach in action. © FAO/T.V. Hieu
                                          2
                                                                       © IFPRI/ Milo Mitchell
                                                        "THE FUTURE OF 
                                                         AGRICULTURE IS 
                                                             NOT INPUT-
                                                          INTENSIVE BUT 
                                                           KNOWLEDGE-
                                                              INTENSIVE.  
                                                            WE NEED THE 
                                                             INTEGRATED 
                                                        APPROACH THAT 
                                                          AGROECOLOGY 
                                                            CAN OFFER."
                                                               FAO Director-General 
                                                              José Graziano da Silva
                                         3
           FAO'S WORK ON AGROECOLOGY
           INTRODUCTION
                                                                                 People-centred, 
                                                                      knowledge-intensive 
                                                                                     and rooted to 
                                                                                    sustainability, 
                                                                      agroecology matches 
                                                                           the transformative 
                                                                         approach called for 
                                                                         by the 2030 Agenda
                                                      To overcome the world’s greatest          social and economic equity, and 
                                                      challenges, the ambitious                 conserve biodiversity and the 
                                                      2030 Agenda for Sustainable               ecosystem services on which 
             AGROECOLOGY                              Development recognises the                agriculture depends. 
                                                      urgent need to take action 
             OFFERS A UNIQUE                          and pursue policies directed              Today’s food and agricultural 
             APPROACH TO                              at transformational change.               systems have succeeded in 
                                                      Ending poverty and achieving zero         supplying large volumes of food 
             MEETING THE                              hunger, while ensuring inclusive          to global markets, yet they cannot 
                                                      growth and sustainably managing           deliver sustainable development 
             NEEDS OF FUTURE                          the planet’s natural resources, all in    for all. High-external input, 
                                                      the context of climate change, will       resource-intensive agricultural 
             GENERATIONS                              only be possible by committing to         systems have contributed to 
                                                      the sustainable world of tomorrow.        deforestation, water scarcity, 
             WHILE ENSURING                                                                     biodiversity loss, soil depletion 
                                                      This calls for a transition to            and high levels of greenhouse gas 
             NO ONE IS                                sustainable food and agriculture          emissions. Despite progress in 
             LEFT BEHIND                              systems that ensure food security         reducing hunger, malnutrition – 
                                                      and nutrition for all, provide            including stunting and wasting, 
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