Agroecology is a holistic concept that embraces a diversity of interpretations, intentions and realities, depending on the country and its context, history, stakeholders and sociopolitical environment. Its aim is to restructure the food system in a way that maximises ecological processes to attain sustainability – encompassing agricultural practices, science and social movements (Gliessman 2007, Wezel et al. 2009). Agroecology also represents a collective-action model to challenge and contrast the dominant agri-food system while creating sustainable alternatives built on place-based food interactions, food sovereignty, local knowledge and identity, and social justice (Levidow et al., 2014; Altieri and Toledo, 2011). Nevertheless, agroecology is also adopted by actors who promote conventional and agro-industrial agriculture (Holt-Gimenez and Altieri 2013) through sustainable intensification approaches geared towards increasing productivity. These two visions (transformative vs conformative) create a very different role for agroecology, with varied outcomes and socio-technical dynamics, including how science is conceived and articulated.

This policy brief aims to provide research-based recommendations for policy makers that are responsible for the design and funding of research programmes related to sustainable agriculture, as well as agroecology.

The research was undertaken as a desk-based activity in order to collect information on research projects and funding programmes which deal with agroecology in Europe, principally at the European (within the Horizon framework which is funded by the European Union) and transnational (codesigned and co-funded by Member States with the participation of European Union) levels.

Based on the research and three surveys that were conducted, the policy brief introduces science-based recommendations, with the aim to steer the actions of policy makers responsible for the design and funding of research programmes related to agroecology, in order to fortify its transformative role for the future of agriculture and sustainable food systems.