Agroecology is a science and a movement. It is a type of farming that mimics nature in its operations. It relies on farm inputs rather than external inputs. It is one of the most sustainable methods of farming that also takes care of the environment. It focusses on addressing the disparities in the food systems such as gender equity, equitable land distribution, localised markets and accessibility to other commons such as water, forests, seeds etc.
Agroecology is important since it is sustainable as compared to industrial agriculture. It is relies on natural/organic inputs which do not contaminate the environment, including land and water. It also promotes biodiversity and allows organisms to co-exist in a mutual manner. The minimum tillage promoted in agroecology also allows for both water and soil conservation. This actually cuts on costs of land preparation as only appropriate technology is employed. Moreover agroecology promotes social cohesion as communal labour is the common practice.
There is a vast difference between food produced agro-ecologically and that from industrial farming. The produce from industrial agriculture does not have a long shelf life as compared to that from agroecology. Food that is industrially produced poses great danger of contamination from agro-chemicals that come with the practice. It has also been noted that food grown through agroecology tastes far better than that industrially produced.
It is a common myth that agroecology is only suitable for subsistence farming. Indeed agroecology can be scaled up to feed the entire populations. There is evidence nationally and across the world of big commercialised farms which practice only agroecology. In fact it is the only way of farming that can sustain the world with healthy food. There are techniques that can be employed when one is farming agro-ecologically on a medium or large scale.