agroecology
Ecological farming science
Agroecology is the study and practice of applying ecological principles to agricultural systems.
It examines farming as an ecosystem—how crops, soil, water, insects, and climate interact—rather than focusing on single variables like yield.
The field emphasizes sustainable methods: crop rotation, biodiversity, natural pest control, and reduced chemical inputs.
Agroecology offers alternatives to industrial monoculture.
Alternating field plantings yearly
- polycultureMulti-species crop system
- cover cropsPlants shielding fallow fields
- agroforestryTrees integrated with farming
- intercroppingSimultaneous multi-crop cultivation
seed saving · green manure · no-till · mulching · composting · biodynamic · water harvesting · biological control
Range of life forms
- soil healthGround's biological vitality
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
habitat · keystone species · decomposers · beneficial insects · mycorrhizae · nitrogen fixation · carbon sequestration · watershed
Ability to withstand environmental shifts
- regenerativeAble to renew itself
- resource conservationCareful use of supplies
- closed-loopSystem with feedback control
- land stewardshipResponsible care of terrain
traditional knowledge · smallholder · fair trade · food security · indigenous practices · environmental justice · intergenerational
Decayed organic fertilizer
- vermicompostWorm-digested organic material
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- earthwormsSoil-dwelling segmented invertebrates
biochar · soil structure · microorganisms · soil fertility · erosion control · mulch · green manure · biofertilizers
crop rotation
Alternating field plantings yearly
- polycultureMulti-species crop system
- cover cropsPlants shielding fallow fields
- agroforestryTrees integrated with farming
intercropping · seed saving · green manure · no-till · mulching · composting · biodynamic · water harvesting · biological control · hedge rows
biodiversity
Range of life forms
- soil healthGround's biological vitality
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
food web · habitat · keystone species · decomposers · beneficial insects · mycorrhizae · nitrogen fixation · carbon sequestration · watershed · microbiome
climate resilience
Ability to withstand environmental shifts
- regenerativeAble to renew itself
- resource conservationCareful use of supplies
- closed-loopSystem with feedback control
land stewardship · traditional knowledge · smallholder · fair trade · food security · indigenous practices · environmental justice · intergenerational
compost
Decayed organic fertilizer
- vermicompostWorm-digested organic material
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
earthworms · biochar · soil structure · microorganisms · soil fertility · erosion control · mulch · green manure · biofertilizers
systems thinking
Analyzing interconnected wholes
- academic fieldsmathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history
- ecologyhabitat, balance, niche, food webs, food chain
- environmentalismconservationism, recycling bins, campaigner, environmentalism, conservationist
- Organic Gardeningcompost, mulch, organic fertilizer, organic seeds, heirloom seeds
- sustainable agricultureorganic farming, regenerative farming, sustainable farming, soil health, cover crops
- sustainable eatingsustainable food, ethical eating, local food, organic food, plant-based
agroecologyindustrial agriculture
Large-scale mechanized farming
factory farming · monoculture · agribusiness · plantation agriculture · corporate farming
agriculture, ecology, agrarian, ecological, ecosystem, agronomy, agro