In early September, nearly 70 scientists and food scholars wrote to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) praising the organization for convening an International Symposium on Agroecology for Food and Nutrition Security. Read the letter here: http://www.iatp.org/files/2014.09.17_AgroecologyFAOLetter.pdf.

While the symposium is over, the work on expanding agroecology is not. Sign on below to support a U.N.-wide initiative on agroecology. Agroecology’s broad base in science and society means it is uniquely suited to address today’s challenges in food and agricultural systems. It can be considered a science, a set of practices, and a social movement for food sovereignty and justice. As a science, agroecology integrates multiple disciplines into a "trans-discipline," drawing on fields such as ecology, agronomy, political economy and sociology. As a set of practices, it can provide multiple benefits to society and the environment, from reducing pollution from agriculture and supporting the conservation of the environment to boosting nutrition security and improving resilience in a changing climate. As a movement, it can address the vitally important issues of distributive and procedural justice in food and agriculture—that is, who gets access to what resources and how to decide. The letter points out that, according to well-established science, social movements and addressing distributive and procedural justice are just as crucial as scientific and technical innovation in sustainably implementing the right to food.

Be sure to indicate whether you're interested in ongoing work on this issue as the group effort continues. Email IATP's M. Jahi Chappell at jchappell@iatp.org with questions.