Methodological proposal to analyze the agroecological transition towards sustainable agriculture

Authors

  • Karla Terán-Samaniego Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo image/svg+xml Author
  • Jesús Martín Robles-Parra Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo image/svg+xml Author
  • Mavet Madai Herrera-Cadena Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo image/svg+xml Author
  • Martín Ernesto Tiznado-Hernández Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo image/svg+xml Author
  • Pablo César Espinoza-López Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo image/svg+xml Author
  • Mayra Lucía Maycotte-de la Peña Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo image/svg+xml Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v17i6.4135

Keywords:

agroecology, interdisciplinary analysis, systems approach

Abstract

This study proposes a methodology for analyzing the agroecological transition towards sustainable agricultural systems, addressing the need for methodological procedures that link conceptual advances to their practical application. A systematic review was conducted based on 47 academic sources from Google Scholar, Scopus and ScienceDirect, followed by a comparative analysis of the scientific literature, which identified historical milestones, criticisms, and methodological contributions that allowed defining five key dimensions: environmental perspective, food security and sovereignty, scope, justice, equity and method. From the analysis, a five-phase methodology emerges as a route to transform conceptual complexity into a practical guide that facilitates the addressing of problems in the transition from agroecology to sustainable agriculture.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Altieri M. A. 1989. Agroecology: a new research and development paradigm for world agriculture. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 1-4(27):37-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8809(89)90070-4.

Altieri, M. A. 2018. Agroecology: the science of sustainable agriculture. Second Edition. CRC Press. 433 p.

Altieri, M. A.; Nicholls, C. I.; Méndez, V. E. y Soto, D. 2021. Documentando la evidencia en agroecología: una perspectiva latinoamericana. Boletín Núm. 5. CELIA. https://www.fao.org/agroecology/database/detail/es/c/1418196/.

Anderson, C. R.; Bruil, J.; Chappell, M. J.; Kiss, C. and Pimbert, M. P. 2021. Agroecology now! Transformations towards more just and sustainable food systems. Palgrave Macmillan. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61315-0.

Anderson, C. R and Anderson, M. D. 2020. Resources to inspire a transformative agroecology: a curated guide. En H. R. Herren, B. Haerlin and IAASTD. A. G. (Eds.), transformation of our food systems: the making of a paradigm shift. Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft. Foundation on Future Farming. 169-180 pp.

Bezner, R.; Liebert, J.; Kansanga, M. and Kpienbaareh, D. 2022. Human and social values in agroecology: a review. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene. 10(1):00090. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2021.00090.

Bezner, R.; Madsen, S.; Stüber, M.; Liebert, J.; Enloe, S.; Borghino, N.; Parros, P.; Mutyamba, D. M.; Prudhon, M. and Wezel, A. 2021. Can agroecology improve food security and nutrition? A review. Global Food Security. 29:100540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100540.

Caporali, F. 2007. Agroecology is a science of integration for sustainability in agriculture. Ital. J. Agron. 2(2):73-82. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2007.71.

Carlile, R. and Garnett, T. 2021. What is agroecology? table explainer series. table, University of Oxford, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Wageningen University and Research (WUR). Doi: https://www.doi.org/10.56661/96cf1b98.

Casanova, L.; Martínez, J.; López, S. y López, G. 2016. De von Bertalanffy a Luhmann: deconstrucción del concepto ‘agroecosistema’ a través de las generaciones sistémicas. Revista del Magíster en Análisis Sistémico Aplicado a la Sociedad. 35(2):60-74. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-0527.2016.42797.

Dagunga, G.; Ayamga, M.; Laube, W.; Ansah, I. G. K.; Kornher, L. and Kotu, B. H. 2023. Agroecology and resilience of smallholder food security: a systematic review. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 7:1267630 https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1267630.

Dumont, A. M.; Wartenberg, A. C. and Baret, P. V. 2021. Bridging the gap between the agroecological ideal and its implementation into practice. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 41(3):1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-021-00666-3.

Ebel, R. 2020. Are small farms sustainable by nature? Review of an ongoing misunderstanding. Agroecology. Challenges in Sustainability. 8(1):17-29. https://doi.org/10.12924/cis2020.08010017.

Fiore, V.; Borrello, M.; Carlucci, D.; Giannoccaro, G.; Russo, S.; Stempfle, S. and Roselli, L. 2024. The socio-economic issues of agroecology: a scoping review. Agricultural and Food Economics. 16(12):1-38.

Galt, R. E.; Pinzón, N.; Robinson, N. I. and Baukloh-Coronil, M. B. 2024. Agroecology and the social sciences: a half-century systematic review. Agricultural Systems. 216:103881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103881.

Giraldo, O. F. and Rosset, P. M. 2018. Agroecology as a territory in dispute: between institutionality and social movements. The Journal of Peasant Studies. 45(3):545-564. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2017.1353496.

Gliessman, S. R.; Engles, E. and Krieger, R. 1998. Agroecology: ecological processes in sustainable agriculture. CRC Press LLC. Boca Raton, Florida, Estados Unidos. 357 p.

Gliessman, S. R. 2014. Agroecology: the ecology of sustainable food systems. Third edition. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida, USA. 405 p. https://doi.org/10.1201/b17881.

Hecht, S. B. 1995. The evolution of agroecological thought. In: Altieri, M. A. (Ed.). Agroecology: the science of sustainable agriculture. Westview Press. Boulder. CO. USA. 1-19 pp. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429495465.

IPES-Food. 2016. International panel of experts on sustainable food systems. From uniformity to diversity: a paradigm shift, from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems. https://ipes-food.org/report-summary/from-uniformity-to-diversity/.

Mouratiadou, I.; Wezel, A.; Kamilia, K.; Marchetti, A.; Paracchini, M. L. and Bàrberi, P. 2024. The socioeconomic performance of agroecology: a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 19(44):1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-024-00945-9.

Ntamwira, J.; Ocimati, W.; Blomme, G.; Lubobo, A. K.; Lolonga Pyame, M. D. and Dhed’a-Djailo, B. 2023. Innovative agroecological practices can restore degraded farmlands and revive crop yields. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 7:1017341. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1017341.

Phalan, B. T. 2018. What have we learned from the land sparing-sharing model? Sustainability. 10(6):124. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061760.

Poux, X. and Aubert, P. M. 2018. An agro-ecological Europe in 2050: multifunctional agriculture for healthy eating. Findings from the ten years for agroecology (TYFA) modelling exercise. Iddri-AScA, Study N°09/18. https://www.iddri.org/en/publications-and-events/study/agroecological-europe-2050-multifunctional-agriculture-healthy-eating.

Quispe-Ojeda, T. C. 2022. La agroecología como alternativa para el desarrollo sostenible y sustentable. Cienciamatría. 8(14):33-45. https://doi.org/10.35381/cm.v8i14.605.

Rosset, P. M. and Altieri, M. A. 2017. Agroecology: science and politics. Fernwood Publishing. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canadá. Agrarian Change and Peasant Studies Series. 7. 160 p. https://doi.org/10.3362/9781780449944.

Schatte, P. and Meyer, M. A. 2023. Assessing holistic agroecological resilience of agroecosystems from a landscape perspective: a systematic review. Ecology and Society. 30(2):1-38. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-16137-300224.

Shepherd, W. G. and Shepherd, J. M. 2003. The economics of industrial organizations. Fifth edition. Long Grove, Illinois, USA. 426 p.

Terán-Samaniego, K.; Robles-Parra, J. M.; Vargas-Arispuro, I.; Martínez-Téllez, M. Á.; Garza-Lagler, M. C.; Félix-Gurrola, D.; Maycotte-de la Peña, M. L.; Tafolla-Arellano, J. C.; Espinoza-López, P. C. and García-Figueroa, J. A. 2025. Agroecology and sustainable agriculture: conceptual challenges and opportunities- a systematic literature review. Sustainability. 17(5):1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17051805.

Tittonell, P. 2023. Pathways for agroecological transitions. A systems approach to agroecology. Springer International Publishing. 355-393 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42939-2.

Tudge, C. 2014. Is agroecology natural? Is natural good? Colin Tudge. https://www.colintudge.com/essay/is-agroecology-natural-is-natural-good/.

Van der-Ploeg, J. D.; Barjolle, D.; Bruil, J.; Brunori, G.; Costa-Madureira, L. M.; Dessein, J.; Drąg, Z.; Fink-Kessler, A.; Gasselin, P.; Gonzalez-Molina, M.; Gorlach, K.; Jürgens, K.; Kinsella, J.; Kirwan, J.; Knickel, K.; Lucas, V.; Marsden, T.; Maye, D.; Migliorini, P.; Milone, P.; Noe, E.; Nowak, P.; Parrott, N.; Peeters, A.; Rossi, A.; Schermer, M.; Ventura, F.; Visser, M. y Wezel, A. 2019. The economic potential of agroecology: empirical evidence from Europe. Journal of Rural Studies. 71:46-61. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.09.003.

Vizuete, B.; García-Llorente, M.; Pérez-Ramírez, I. and Oteros-Rozas, E. 2024. Gender equity as a key element for agroecological transitions: neo-rural women as managers of agroecological initiatives. People and Nature. 2(7):449-462. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10761.

Wezel, A.; Bellon, S.; Doré, T.; Francis, C.; Vallod, D. and David, C. 2009. Agroecology as a science, a movement and a practice. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 29:503-515. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1051/agro/2009004.

Wezel, A.; Herren, B. G.; Kerr, R. B.; Barrios, E.; Gonçalves, A. L. R. and Sinclair, F. 2020. Agroecological principles and elements and their implications for transitioning to sustainable food systems. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 40(6):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-020-00646-z.

Zaruk, D. 2023. Is agroecology a solution or an agenda? Outlook of Agriculture. 52(3):247-253. https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270231191807.

Downloads

Published

2026-11-05

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 6 (2026)

Section

Essays

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

The authors who publish in Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas accept the following conditions:

In accordance with copyright laws, Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas recognizes and respects the authors’ moral right and ownership of property rights which will be transferred to the journal for dissemination in open access. Invariably, all the authors have to sign a letter of transfer of property rights and of originality of the article to Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) [National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research]. The author(s) must pay a fee for the reception of articles before proceeding to editorial review.      

All the texts published by Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas —with no exception— are distributed under a Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), which allows third parties to use the publication as long as the work’s authorship and its first publication in this journal are mentioned.

The author(s) can enter into independent and additional contractual agreements for the nonexclusive distribution of the version of the article published in Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas (for example include it into an institutional repository or publish it in a book) as long as it is clearly and explicitly indicated that the work was published for the first time in Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas.

For all the above, the authors shall send the Letter-transfer of Property Rights for the first publication duly filled in and signed by the author(s). This form must be sent as a PDF file to: revista_atm@yahoo.com.mx; cienciasagricola@inifap.gob.mx; remexca2017@gmail.

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International license.

How to Cite

Terán-Samaniego, Karla, Jesús Martín Robles-Parra, Mavet Madai Herrera-Cadena, Martín Ernesto Tiznado-Hernández, Pablo César Espinoza-López, and Mayra Lucía Maycotte-de la Peña. 2026. “Methodological Proposal to Analyze the Agroecological Transition towards Sustainable Agriculture”. Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Agrícolas 17 (6): e4135. https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v17i6.4135.