AGROECOLOGY IN LARGE SCALE

FARMING—A RESEARCH AGENDA

Introduction to Agroecology in Large Scale Farming:
Agroecology offers a middle ground between conventional agricultural tradeoffs, 1
balancing aspects like food production and nature conservation, environmental
sustainability, and ecosystem services.
Agroecology offers a middle ground between conventional agricultural tradeoffs,
balancing aspects like food production and nature conservation, environmental
sustainability, and ecosystem services (Tittonell et al., 2020).

Contrasting Agricultural Contexts: Western Europe vs. Temperate South America:

2 Agroecology offers a middle ground between conventional agricultural tradeoffs,
balancing aspects like food production and nature conservation, environmental
sustainability, and ecosystem services. Despite its success in smallholder, family
agriculture, which covers only 30% of global agricultural areas, there's an urgent
need to mainstream agroecology in large-scale farming (Tittonell et al., 2020).

Key Aspects of Agroecological Transitions:

Service crops, arthropod-mediated functions, landscape and watershed
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regulation, graze-based livestock, and nature-inclusive landscapes. Key
agroecological aspects promote holistic, sustainable agriculture by
integrating biodiversity, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing
resilience. This benefits the environment, ensures food security, and supports
farming communities. (Tittonell et al., 2020).

Research Agenda for Agroecology in Large Scale Farming:

To facilitate the mainstreaming of agroecology, a comprehensive research
4 agenda is proposed. Domains essential for agroecological success: (i) Breeding
for diversity, (ii) Scalable complexity, (iii) Managing cycles beyond fields and
farms, (iv) Sharing the cultivated landscape, and (v) Co-innovation with farmers,
value chains, and policymakers. Emphasizes the need for a strategic and
multifaceted approach to address the challenges faced by large-scale farmers
(Tittonell et al., 2020).

Agroecology's Potential
Agroecology presents a pivotal solution for large-scale farming, reconciling
global agricultural tradeoffs. Tailoring strategies to diverse contexts and
addressing key aspects, agroecology offers transformative potential.
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Attracting the youth, fostering innovation, and instilling pride in sustainable
contributions, stands as a beacon for a balanced and resilient future in
agriculture (Tittonell et al., 2020).
r Tittonell, P., Gervasio Piñeiro, Garibaldi, L.A., Dogliotti, S., Olff, H. and Jobbágy, E.G. (2020). Agroecology in Large Scale Farming—A Research
Agenda. Frontiers in sustainable food systems, [online] 4. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.584605.