“The wide application of agroecological practices such as agroforestry is a no brainer,” writes Gina Castillo, Agriculture Program Manager at Oxfam America in an article about a recent agroecology symposium.

The article on the website of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research explains how a social movement is pushing for a change in the dominant model of agricultural production, and especially in Latin America and Brazil where large-scale soy production is underway.

The Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations was heavily focused on the science of agroecology, which Castillo hopes will help to “debunk the myths that beleaguer the movement”.

Dr Ravi Prabhu, Deputy Director General of Research at the World Agroforestry Centre provided evidence on how the right trees, in the right arrangement, at the right location can provide tremendous benefits in terms of improved soil fertility, food and income.

Castillo highlights the need for more research on agroecology, such as on the underground biodiversity needed to grow crops and the ecological and social aspects of farming, particularly gender-related issues.

As a follow-up to the conference, the FAO is planning a series of regional workshops on agroecology.

Read the full story: FAO sends message on the global need for agroecology

See also: Scientists unite for agroecology