Agroecology in the EU, status and initiatives and reasons?

Background: Worldwide, agroecology is on the rise as a policy paradigm after it has guided science, practices, and movements. Recently, also the EU starts to incorporate agroecology into its policies towards third countries as well as it considers it potential role for EU agriculture. In different member states its role as policy paradigm varies.

Aim: The aim of this work is to describe and explain the role of agroecology as a paradigm in EU and member states’ agricultural policies. Another aspect wonders how agroecology relates to alternative orientations that promote specifically alternatives to conventional, highly mechanized agriculture.