Agroecology is the application of ecological principles to the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems and food systems. It aims at enhancing biodiversity, nutrient cycling, resilience, and ecological regulation while reducing dependence on external resources. It involves a progressive transformation of agriculture—from improving efficiency and substituting harmful inputs to redesigning farming systems based on ecological processes and ultimately reshaping entire food systems to achieve environmental sustainability, economic viability, and social justice.

In this understanding, agroecology is simultaneously a scientific discipline, a set of agricultural practices, and a social movement. It integrates ecological research, farmer knowledge, practical innovation, and sociopolitical engagement, linking farm-level management with broader systemic change towards equitable and sustainable food systems.

In 2019, the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security issued the report “Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition” which describes the nature and potential contributions of agroecological and other innovative approaches to formulating transitions towards sustainable food systems (SFSs) that enhance Food and Nutrition Security. In 2021, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorsed the related Policy Recommendations.

The UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in 2021 has identified nature-positive production and agroecology in particular, as one of the systemic levers for change toward more sustainable food systems. As part of the post-summit activities, an international Coalition for food systems transformation through Agroecology has been set up to support the large-scale adoption of agroecological practices.