This paper examines the origin and impacts of agricultural modernization in relation to the social basis of agroecology as a science and social agrarian movement. The impact of capitalism in rural societies has provided a framework for social movements from the 19^th century, a framework that is also applied here to analyze the conflicts arising from the development of industrial agriculture. We also reflect upon the appearance of modern environmental awareness and how the growing concern over negative impacts of agricultural industrialization has sparked interest in radical proposal to reformulate the principles and approaches of agricultural and rural development.