I welcome the decision of the CFS to commission a report on: “Agroecological approaches and other innovations for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition”.
Considering the urgency to address the lack of sustainability of our currently dominant high input production systems, it is a very timely subject.
However, it would be futile to limit the report to a comparison of “Agroecological approaches” with “other innovations”. Indeed Agroecology is more than an innovation, but rather a comprehensive paradigm that combines a broad range of innovations with a deep understanding of nature and includes also traditional knowledge.
Therefore, I recommend that the term “and other innovations” not be considered as alternatives to agroecology, but be envisaged for their potential contribution to sustainable agriculture and to enhancing food security and nutrition, within the agroecological paradigm.
Emile Frison