ABSTRACT
The developments in ecological theory were to have particular relevance to the evolution of agroecological thought. Ecologists have been singularly important in the evolution of agroecological thought for several reasons. First, the conceptual framework of agroecology and its language are essentially ecological. Second, agricultural systems are themselves interesting research ensembles where researchers have much greater ability to control, test, and manipulate the components of the system compared with natural ecosystems. The study of indigenous agricultural systems has provided much of the raw material for the development of hypotheses and alternative production systems for agroecology. Rural development studies have documented the relations between socioeconomic factors and the structure and social organization of agriculture. Agroecology can be a normative challenge to existing ways of approaching agricultural issues in several disciplines. The integration of agronomy and environmentalism dovetailed in agroecology, but the intellectual foundations for such an academic mix were still relatively weak.
