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Amplifying Agroecology in Vermont: Principles and Processes to Foster Food Systems Sustainability
Caswell, Martha Maden, Rebecca McCune, Nils Méndez, V. Ernesto Bucini, Gabriela Anderzén, Janica Izzo, Victor Hurley, Stephanie E. Gould, Rachelle K. Faulkner, Joshua
Caswell, Martha
Maden, Rebecca
McCune, Nils
Méndez, V. Ernesto
Bucini, Gabriela
Anderzén, Janica
Izzo, Victor
Hurley, Stephanie E.
Gould, Rachelle K.
Faulkner, Joshua
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Abstract
Agroecology is grounded in principles that support transitions toward economic, social and ecological
sustainability and proposes that real and lasting change will require a significant transformation of our
agri-food systems. Evidence for agroecology’s potential continues to grow, both through word of mouth
by farmers and social movements, and through recent scientific assessments of its performance. With
endorsements from the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), national
governments in both the global north and south, and social movements, it is developing the web of ‘thick
legitimacy’ required for even broader adoption (Montenegro de Wit & Iles, 2016). “...Agroecology
represents a system that works with nature instead of against it and offers an approach to food
production that boosts biodiversity, creates ecological resilience, improves soils, cools the planet and
reduces energy and resource use. It has been shown to be highly productive, to provide highly diverse
dietary offerings and to support the process of community building and women’s empowerment”
(Anderson et al., 2020, p. 3). However, agroecology is an approach that is not yet recognized as being
actively practiced in Vermont and the USA, despite its significant potential for supporting transitions to
sustainable food systems in different contexts.
The University of Vermont is home to researchers and practitioners at the forefront of agroecological
research and learning. The objectives of this white paper are to demonstrate the importance of
agroecology for the future of sustainable food systems in Vermont, and as a framework to assess and
advance transformations towards sustainability. In this paper we will:
a) Demonstrate the global evidence base for agroecology and the potential of agroecology in the
United States, and Vermont.
b) Present the case for an agroecological principles-based approach to assess food and farming
sustainability which can capture the multifunctional dynamics and benefits of agroecology to
economic, social and ecological sustainability.
c) Present examples based on our newly developed Agroecological Assessment for Sustainability
framework to existing initiatives in Vermont that represent constituencies across a range of farm
types and scales.
d) Demonstrate the importance of participatory and transdisciplinary approaches for research and
development that move us toward the future of sustainable food systems and beyond.
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2021-01
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Caswell, M., R. Maden, N. McCune, V.E. Méndez, G. Bucini, J. Anderzén, V. Izzo, S.E. Hurley, R.K. Gould, J. Faulkner & M.A. Juncos-Gautier (2021) Amplifying Agroecology in Vermont: Principles and Processes to Foster Food Systems Sustainability. White Paper. Agroecology and Livelihoods Collaborative. University of Vermont: Burlington, Vermont, U.S.A.