Mapping the development of agroecology in Europe - Volume 2

This second volume of the country reports series enlarges the documentation, analysis, and development of agroecology in Europe, and provides examples of implementation in different countries. The 11 countries studied within this volume show somewhat similar results as found in with the first 13 countries mapped in volume 1. There are quite contrasted situations regarding the development of agroecology in different countries. In some countries many existing initiatives with a direct or indirect link to agroecology and some of its principles can be document, whereas the implementation of agroecology or the use of the concept and approaches are still limited in other countries. This does not mean that some countries are better than others, only that agroecology evolves distinctly through the history of agriculture and foods systems as well as
the policy framework.

Diverse visions, definitions, and use of the concept of agroecology exist in different countries, but a gradual convergence can be observed. Only a few clearly defined educational and training programmes can be documented for the majority of the countries analysed, some of these already exist for years. Dedicated research units, programmes, and projects with the name agroecology are limited in most countries, but they are growing in numbers over the last years. A lot of research related to agroecology is carried out in many countries without being explicitly on agroecology. Living labs are not much known, even less so in relation to agroecology, however, their numbers are increasing in the past years, but in most cases without explicitly referring to agroecology.

In addition to expanding the body of knowledge on initiatives linked to agroecology, this volume illustrates what needs to happen for the development of agroecology in Europe. Yet more countries are being mapped for following volumes of this series to give broad analysis and enhanced insights for the future development of agroecology in Europe.