Agroecology — Connecting People, Land, Climate, and Biodiversity
Policy brief recaps the 2024 Rio CoPs and provides recommendations for Belém
Key Takeaways for Readers
Hover over to have a look!Key Takeaways for Readers
Agroecology is more than just a farming approach—it’s a powerful solution to interconnected global crises like climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.
This article shows you how agroecological practices are gaining traction in national and international policies, backed by real-world examples from the 2024 Rio Convention COPs. You’ll also find concrete recommendations on how to push agroecology forward as we move toward UNFCCC CoP30.
If you’re looking for actionable insights on the future of sustainable agriculture, this is essential reading.
Download the policy brief: Agroecology: Connecting People, Land, Climate, and Biodiversity
What is Agroecology?
More than just sustainable farming, agroecology represents a dynamic, systemic approach addressing ecological, socio-cultural, technological, economic, and political dimensions of food systems. Built on 13 principles and 10 elements defined respectively by the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) and the FAO, agroecology emphasizes nature-based solutions, closed production cycles, reduced external inputs, and the essential importance of local knowledge. At its core, agroecology advances equity, inclusion, and environmental stewardship while connecting sustainable food production with healthy ecosystems and social justice.
How does Agroecology Contribute to Addressing the Dual Crises?
Agroecology has the potential to transform governance structures by promoting meaningful synergies across environmental frameworks and enabling coordinated action on interlinked challenges. It enhances food and livelihood security through diversified, resilient production systems that withstand climate shocks and market fluctuations. By reducing dependence on expensive external inputs and volatile global markets, agroecology creates sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities and small-scale producers. Perhaps most importantly, agroecology centers equity and justice by emphasizing women’s participation in decision-making, recognizing and valuing Indigenous knowledge systems, and securing land tenure rights for marginalized communities who steward much of the world’s biodiversity.
Recognition of Agroecology within the 2024 Rio Convention CoPs
The 2024 COPs were milestones for the recognition of agroecology:
- CBD CoP16 (Cali, Colombia) established cross-convention work programs integrating biodiversity and climate action while creating dedicated mechanisms for Indigenous knowledge systems. Notably, 18 of 39 post-COP15 National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) now explicitly include agroecology.
- UNFCCC CoP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan) incorporated numerous indicators explicitly mentioning agroecology into the first Global Goal on Adaptation Indicator Mapping. An updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) analysis shows that 19 out of 146 analyzed NDCs now explicitly include agroecology; 76 NDCs reference agroforestry and 54 highlight smallholder farmers’ roles.
- UNCCD CoP16 (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) achieved unprecedented progress, with agroecology being directly mentioned in the Riyadh political declaration and featured in multiple decisions on implementation, knowledge sharing, and addressing agriculture’s role in land degradation.
Six Action Steps Toward CoP30 in Belém
The policy brief recommends specific actions to advance agroecology, paving the way for UNFCCC’s COP30 in Belém:
- Pursue strategic opportunities within existing negotiation work streams and initiatives of the Rio Conventions.
- Engage with national governments and non-state actors to mainstream agroecology in national planning processes.
- Develop standardized indicators for monitoring agroecological transitions aligning with the Rio Conventions.
- Explore financing mechanisms to support the implementation of agroecological approaches.
- Showcase concrete cases and economic evidence demonstrating the multiple benefits of agroecological systems.
- Foster inclusive and active participation of underrepresented communities in the COP processes.
As we navigate changing political landscapes, agroecology offers a comprehensive approach that tackles environmental degradation while addressing its interconnected social, economic, and governance dimensions.
The path to COP30 in Belém presents a crucial opportunity to position agroecology at the center of integrated solutions for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land management—while ensuring those most affected by these challenges have a voice in shaping the response.
Overview agroecology under the three Rio Conventions until 2023 ⎮ © Agroecology Coalition
Download
Policy brief Agroecology: Connecting People, Land, Climate, and Biodiversity
Contact
Maike Voss, maike.voss@giz.de, and Rachel Thines, both Sector Project Resilient Rural Areas
