ABSTRACT
Agroecology is a philosophy and set of practices that emphasise the connections between plants, animals, humans, and all the natural elements in growing food in ways that support the ecology of a given area. This chapter describes some of the theoretical principles that define agroecology and provides a brief description of its history. Two examples are used to demonstrate how the philosophy is applied in practice: 1) A deep-rooted farming technique called chinampas that emerged in the pre-colonial Mexico City area; and 2) how Anishinaabeg Indigenous farmers, located around the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States, are making efforts to re-establish traditional varieties of rice, known as manoomin. An agroecological approach can promote sustainable diets through an emphasis on health and well-being, as well as low environmental impacts and affordable, culturally appropriate foods. Agroecology presents a practical and socially grounded way to re-envision food production, sharing, and consumption.
