Agroecology

Agriculture is the art and science of culturing plants and animals for use by humans, most notably as food. Ecology is the study of the relationships among organisms and their total environment, including biological, physical and social aspects. Agroecology is the intersection of agriculture and ecology—the study of agriculture as a human endeavor embedded in society and environment.

The work of the Agroecology Cluster addresses the many practical and theoretical issues that arise from this intersection. These include ecosystem dynamics, food systems, cropping systems, relations between crop and non-crop species, nutrient cycling, the social context of the farm, and the multifunctional role of agriculture in the contemporary rural and urban landscape. Central to the cluster’s work is its embrace of agriculture’s role as the outcome of a complex process of social negotiation, and as well, its embrace of participatory research methods as a route to more accurate and relevant science. The Agroecology Cluster was centrally involved in the creation of a new Agroecology Master of Science degree, a first-of-its-kind program, and continues to work to develop this degree program.  The cluster also conducts outreach through the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems.