First used in 1928 by American agronomist Basil Bensin to refer to the application of ecological principles to agriculture (Maitrepierre, 2024), the term « agroecology » (AE) was first used in 1928 by American agronomist Basil Bensin to refer to the application of ecological principles to agriculture (Maitrepierre, 2024), the term « agroecology » (AE) has since expanded beyond the field and farm level to encompass the agroecosystem and then the food system as a whole (HLPE, 2019).
According to David et al. (2012), AE is « an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological, economic and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems ». Its objective is twofold: (1) to optimise the productivity of these systems while strengthening their resilience to new uncertainties imposed by climate change and the volatility of agricultural and food prices; and (2) to maximise the ecosystem services that agrosystems can provide (carbon storage, preservation of biodiversity and natural resources, Maitrepierre, 2024; Malézieux, 2012; Malézieux et al, 2009, 2019).
