Policy Support for Agroecology: Lessons from the Global South

Abstract

This article considers findings from a recent assessment of the policy environment for agroecology (AE) in Canada as these correspond with the basic elements and principles of AE outlined in international guidance documents, namely, the ten elements of AE adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the thirteen principles developed by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security. These findings are evaluated in relation to nine case studies from the Global South that illustrate the benefits of, as well as the challenges in, applying the elements and principles of AE in practice, such as in adopting a national strategy for AE (Tanzania); applying a suite of interrelated policies (India); developing a national research agenda (Cuba); encouraging farmer- to-farmer knowledge sharing (Haiti); protecting cultural heritage (Ecuador); using incentives to encourage better practices (Costa Rica); appreciating the cultural shift and stakeholder engagement necessary for change (Philippines); acknowledging the need for a paradigm shift in policy measures (El Salvador); and implementing policy through clear and simple legislative tools and administrative processes (Colombia). Despite significantly different circumstances, these case studies from the Global South reveal lessons that are relevant for Canada as it embarks on the development of a sustainable agricultural strategy. The article advances the view that because AE entails the integration and balancing of all three components of sustainability—environmental, economic, and social—both in its definition and application, AE is the most consistent interpretation of sustainable agriculture and therefore must be considered in the redesign of Canada’s agri-food policy framework and our renewed legacy in international agricultural development.