Declaration of the International Forum for Agroecology

The Nyéléni Declaration defines agroecology not as a set of technologies, but as a way of life and a political tool for food sovereignty. It rejects industrial food systems and 'false solutions' like climate-smart agriculture, advocating instead for local food systems based on ecological principles, collective rights to land and seeds, and the leadership of women and youth.

• The signatories define agroecology as a comprehensive way of life and a political tool for food sovereignty, rather than a mere collection of production techniques. It is based on ecological principles such as recycling nutrients, energy conservation, and building soil life, while strictly prohibiting the use of GMOs, artificial hormones, and agrotoxics.
• The document argues that the industrial food system is a primary driver of global crises, including climate change, public health issues, and environmental degradation. It claims this model causes soil fertility loss, deforestation, ocean acidification, and health crises such as diabetes and cancer due to industrial diets.
• The declaration explicitly rejects 'co-opted' versions of agroecology promoted by multilateral institutions and corporations. It identifies 'climate smart agriculture', 'sustainable-intensification', and 'ecological-intensification' as narrow technical fixes designed to maintain existing power structures while appearing sustainable.
• Territorial autonomy and collective rights are central pillars of the agroecological vision. This includes the right of communities to control their lands, fishing grounds, and customary social structures, as well as the collective right of peasants and indigenous peoples to use, breed, and sell their own seeds.
• The document emphasizes that women and youth are essential social bases for the evolution of agroecology. It calls for an equal distribution of power, decision-making, and remuneration for women, and views agroecology as a space for rural youth to lead social and ecological transformation.
• The declaration outlines a strategy to 'cool the planet' by establishing agroecology as a primary solution for climate change adaptation and mitigation, while fighting the financialization of ecological benefits and the use of carbon markets.

APA

admin (2015). Declaration of the International Forum for Agroecology. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/declaration-of-the-international-forum-for-agroecology/

Chicago

admin. Declaration of the International Forum for Agroecology. Friends of the Earth International, 2015. https://www.foei.org/declaration-of-the-international-forum-for-agroecology/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=admin |title=Declaration of the International Forum for Agroecology |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=27 February 2015 |url=https://www.foei.org/declaration-of-the-international-forum-for-agroecology/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{admin2015declaration, author = {admin}, title = {{Declaration of the International Forum for Agroecology}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2015}, month = feb, url = {https://www.foei.org/declaration-of-the-international-forum-for-agroecology/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }