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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 Nyéléni Declaration defines agroecology not as a set of technologies, but as a way of life and a political tool for resistance against industrial food systems. It argues that industrial agriculture drives climate and environmental crises, and warns against 'climate-smart agriculture' as a corporate attempt to co-opt agroecology. The document outlines pillars including territorial rights, collective access to commons, and the central role of women and youth, while proposing strategies for territorial policies, knowledge exchange, and local economies to achieve social and ecological transformation.

The Nyéléni Declaration defines agroecology not merely as a set of techniques, but as a political way of life and a form of resistance against an industrial food system that prioritizes profit over life. It argues that industrial agriculture drives multiple crises, including climate change, soil degradation, and public health issues. The declaration rejects 'false solutions' like 'climate-smart agriculture' or 'sustainable intensification,' which it views as attempts by corporations to co-opt agroecology to maintain existing power structures. Instead, it proposes a model based on territorial rights, collective access to commons, horizontal knowledge exchange, and the central leadership of women and youth. The document outlines a comprehensive strategy to implement this vision through territorial policies, local economy building, and the protection of biodiversity and seed sovereignty.