‘Land grabbing’ has grabbed people’s attention in recent years, but this phenomenon is not restricted to developing countries. In the heart of Europe, young German farmers like Paula Giola are also struggling to retain and regain access to farmland.

La Durette is a pilot farm in agroecology located in Avignon, France. Its aim is to set up innovative mediterranean agricultural systems, mixing crops under agroforestry in various designs – mainly fruits and vegetables, and integrating animals into the systems. 

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The August 2012 issue of De Boerderij, a popular magazine for Dutch farmers, showed how “innovative farmers are increasingly successful in finding their consumers”. Read more

Whoever thought that agroecology is only gaining momentum as an agricultural practice, science and movement in Latin America, is wrong. A two day conference in June 2013 clearly depicted the richness of agroecology in Europe- as well as the challenges and opportunities. Read more

Environment and Development Series No. 14.
This paper looks at how ecological agriculture, by building healthy soils, cultivating biological diversity and improving water harvesting and management, can strengthen farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate change. Accordingly, the authors call for a reorientation of policy, funding and research priorities from the dominant industrial agriculture model to ecological agriculture.

Olive production is a major crop in the Mediterranean region. Organic olive production offers agroecological and socioeconomic advantages. A prototyping design methodology was used to design, introduce, test and disseminate ecological olive production systems

Use a technique with a low level of environmental impact for the management of Lygus rugulipennis, a very harmful pest for many crops, especially lettuce, in Italy.

This study has developed a comprehensive framework that incorporates landscape ecological principles and GIS analysis in the planning and design of more sustainable agricultural systems in the Mediterranean landscape of Apulia (Southern Italy)

The object of this study is to see the presence of nematodes in the soils of the areas of Ayegui, Muniain de la Solana, Sesma, Sartaguda and Andosilla.

Anticipating the disappearance of battery cages, alternative, more humane and sustainable methods of egg production have been and are being devel -oped. One up-and-coming example is the Roundel, a concept in The Netherlands that became operational in 2010 and is success-fully expanding. This case study shows its social, environmental and economic benefits – and the unique partnership between business, scientists and civil society that lay the foundation to its success.