How agroecology supports One Health
Agroecology is a holistic and integrated approach that applies ecological and social principles to the design and management of agrifood systems. It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, people, and the environment.
This World Environment Day, here’s how agroecology contributes to a better environment and supports One Health.
It protects plant health
Agroecology works with nature to protect plants by creating robust, resilient ecosystems where they can thrive. It encourages diversity on farms. Instead of planting a single crop, farmers grow different types of crops in rotations or intercropped with others, while natural enemies are encouraged to manage plant pests, a principle used in integrated pest management. This creates more resilient systems that are less vulnerable to outbreaks of plant pests and diseases. For example, intercropping legumes with cereals can improve soil fertility and help keep harmful pests in check - without relying heavily on chemical inputs.
It supports animal health
Farms that integrate crops, trees, and livestock can reduce the spread of diseases and minimize the need for antibiotics. Silvopastoral systems - where trees are planted alongside pastures – can provide shade, improve forage quality, and support wildlife. They can contribute to climate mitigation through increased carbon sequestration, reduce emissions and help farmers adapt to extreme heat. These diversified, integrated systems are more stable and may require less treatments that can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a rising concern in both veterinary and human medicine. Beyond this, using manure from livestock also enriches soils with nutrients and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers - supporting both soil and plant health.
It reduces risks to human health
Agroecology helps protect and nourish people in multiple ways. By encouraging diverse farming systems, it supports the production of a wider range of nutrient-rich crops - helping address micronutrient deficiencies and improve diets. It promotes more responsible interactions between people, animals and ecosystems – helping reduce the risks linked to diseases that jump from animals to humans, known as zoonoses. By reducing reliance on inputs like pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, agroecology helps lower chemical residues in food and the environment. This means safer food for consumers and fewer health risks linked to long-term exposure to chemicals.
It strengthens environmental health
Agroecology conserves and enhances ecosystems that food production relies on by increasing diversity, recycling nutrients and fostering synergies between crops, livestock and trees. Healthy soils, clean water, thriving biodiversity, and carbon-rich landscapes are the foundations of resilient environments and agrifood systems. Practices like mulching, composting, and using manures reduce the need for synthetic inputs while improving soil function and protecting ecosystems. In Lebanon, FAO supported potato farmers to adopt better agricultural practices to reduce pollution in the Litani River. By minimizing the overuse of chemicals, the initiative protected the environment and local water bodies and supported more sustainable production.
Find out more
- Tool for agroecology performance evaluation
- FAO’s work on transboundary plant pests and diseases
- FAO’s work on animal health
- FAO’s work on plant production and protection