Local and international literature related to agroecology has grown rapidly in recent years. This increase recognizes the fact that agricultural research and production practices guided by reductionism is in crisis and that agroecology vitality depend on cutting-edge thinking and practice. The range of agroecology considered in this study was divided into "hard" and "soft" agroecology.

Agroecology advanced not only as a discipline of science and practice of agriculture, but also the movement of farmers. As a practice, agroecology was closely related to "eco-agriculture" in China, including four levels of change: replacement of traditional techniques by resource-saving techniques, substitution of traditional inputs with alternative inputs, structural changes of agro-ecosystems and changes in food supply chains. Agroecology as the movement of farmers prevailed in Latin America and the U.S. agroecology movement was becoming an important form of organized exchanges of experiences in agroecological practices among farmers for improved livelihoods and protected interests and rights of farmers. These movements were affecting government decisions as well as food production and supply. As a scientific discipline, agroecology not only needed further quantitative and interdisciplinary research, but also development of advanced methods for up-scaling interpretations of research results. This overview of international development of agroecology facilitated reliable analysis of the merits and demerits of agroecological development in China. The broader implications for future agroecological development in China were also discussed.