Este libro exhibe la idea de rescatar las prácticas agroalimentarias que se utilizaban antes de la invasión de los europeos en América Latina, las cuales eran prósperas y ecológicas, y aunque no se usaba el adjetivo sustentable, éste hace muy buena referencia a ello. Se muestran las ventajas de mantener la práctica de una agricultura libre de fertilizantes y agroquímicos industriales, mostrando el beneficio de utilizar compostajes para fertilizar de forma natural el suelo y para potenciar sus nutrientes para mejorar la cosecha, así como la práctica de policultivos seleccionados para cada región, para con ello obtener el aprovechamiento que proveé el suelo sin estresarlo, como lo hace la agroindustria. Con estas prácticas se hace énfasis en no dejar perder estas costumbres en la agricultura, pues la agroecología que proponemos rescatar es el principal camino hacia una agricultura y sociedad sustentables, es el espíritu de la sustentabilidad al que aspiramos todos. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52501/cc.182

La agroecología puede fortalecer a las comunidades marginadas, restaurar los ecosistemas y proteger las fincas de la destrucción ecológica, al mismo tiempo aporta para frenar el el cambio climático. Estas prácticas son efectivas pero todavía no se aplican en todo el mundo. El libro Tierra Fértil, editado por el director ejecutivo de Groundswell International Steve Brescia, nos presenta nueve ejemplos en los cuales los campesinos dirigen movimientos agroecológicos en sus comunidades. Su trabajo en África, Latinoamérica, el Caribe, América del Norte y Europa profundiza las prácticas agroecológicas en muchas comunidades , estas prácticas y principios los comparten con los métodos de Campesino a Campesino, y establecen estructuras organizativas que apoyan a organizaciones gubernamentales y civiles. Tierra Fértil nos muestra métodos para expandir la agroecología con comunidades rurales para que ellas se beneficien con sus propias soluciones y sabiduría.

This book is a state-of-the-art compilation of the latest information on ecosystem services of agroforestry. The last two decades have seen a surge in literature on the ecosystem services of sustainable agriculture practices, including that of agroforestry; however, compilation and synthesis of such information from agroforestry have been limited. This book fills that void by bringing in a number of experts from around the world. In addition to presenting the multiple dimensions of ecosystem services provided by major agroforestry practices, the book also offers case studies from both tropical and temperate regions of the world. Information from this book can be used to design land management practices for climate change mitigation, ecosystem benefits, agricultural productivity and sustainability, and for survival and profitability of family farms and to conserve biodiversity. While synthesizing information of the biophysical aspects of ecosystem services, the book also outlines the socioeconomic and policy dimensions, including appropriate incentive models to enhance adoption of agroforestry so that society at large can enjoy these important benefits

This book gathers high-quality papers presented at International Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation for Society (CITIS 2021), held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on May 26–28, 2021. This book will present the recent research trends in the fields of software engineering, big data analysis, cloud computing, data engineering, data management and data mining, machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence, smart systems, robotics and automation, mechatronic design, and industrial processes design.

This book explores the interactions of local inhabitants and environmental systems in the Protected Natural Areas of Mexico. Its goal is to help understand how social groups contextualize ecological knowledge, how human activities contribute to modifying the environmental matrix, how cultural and economic aspects influence the use, management and conservation of their ecological environment, and how social phenomena are to be viewed against the backdrop of ecological knowledge. The book reviews the epistemological and historical bases of the socio-ecological relationship, and addresses the evolution of human-natural systems. From a methodological standpoint, it assesses the tools required for the integration of “human” and “natural” dimensions in the management of the environmental matrix. Further, in the case studies section, it reviews valuable recent experiences concerning the retro-interactions of local inhabitants with their environmental matrix. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable asset for researchers and professionals all over the world, especially those working in Latin American countries.

Inspiring innovative and sustainable practices, governance perspectives and informing public policies, Food and Agriculture in Urbanized Societies offers the most current research on urbanized agriculture to truly provide ‘pathways for a better future’ to foster more equitable and fair societies.

This book delves into diverse local food systems and critically assesses their ecological and societal benefits and trade-offs, their limits and opportunities for improving sustainability of food production, and framework conditions which either hinder or promote their development. More and more people with gradually meat heavier diets will demand growth in food production, whilst our increasingly industrialized and globalized agri-food system has already caused serious sustainability problems in the past. This calls for a change in the way we produce, distribute and consume food. A re-emerging debate on food security and food sovereignty seems to support this quest. But what are the promising alternatives to mainstream developments? Such a discussion regarding sustainability of local food systems requires a sound systemic understanding and thus invites a socio-metabolic reading of local cases by analyzing the nexus between material and energy flows as well as land and time use. This approach is needed to complement the so far mostly qualitatively-based local food studies. Applying socio-metabolic approaches to local food systems fosters a better understanding of promises and pitfalls for sustainable pathways in the future.