Agroecology and the conversion of lárge‐scale conventional systems to sustainable management

Abstract

This paper describes the agroecological principles necessary to guide the conversion of high‐input conventional systems to a low‐input management based on crop diversification and livestook integration schemes which break the monoculture nature of conventional systems. The new crop‐crop and crop‐animal combinations result in a series of synergisms and complementarities among farming system components which lead to optimal recycling of organic matter and nutrients, and to balanced pest‐natural enemy populations. Thus, agroecological design goes beyond “input‐substitution” by establishing systems capable of sponsoring their own soil fertility, crop protection and yield constancy. These new agroecosystems provide a sustainable level of productivity with minimal need for external (conventional or organic) resources. Biological structuring sponsors the functioning of the system.