The approach of conventional agriculture has always sought to increase the production of agricultural crops without considering the subsequent consequences on the environment in which it is practiced. This is the case, for example, with intensive soil tillage, monoculture practices, indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers, chemical control of pests and weeds, intensive use of water from deep wells for agriculture and genetic manipulation, among other practices of modern agriculture.

Agroecologists do not always agree about what agroecology is, or should be, in the long term. Different definitions of the term agroecology can be distinguished largely by the specificity with which the term “ecology” is defined; Thus, agroecology is defined by the OECD as "the study of the relationship between agricultural crops and the environment." And it is one of the most appropriate in all approaches to what agroecology is.[7]​

These are practices promoted and applied under the traditional agricultural approach. It should not be neglected or denied that the application of conventional technological practices and innovations increases agricultural production, but it cannot be denied that their practice in agricultural activities deteriorates natural resources in a considerable and occasionally irreversible manner.

The deterioration of the vegetation cover, soil erosion (wind, water, fertility), the increase in soil salinity, a considerable decrease in groundwater tables, the loss of agricultural biological and genetic diversity, the constant resistance of agricultural pests and diseases, the silting of dams, natural flooding, the eutrophication of lakes and air pollution, are some of the multiple consequences of agriculture based on agrochemicals and the use of large amounts of energy.

Given the multiple negative factors of conventional agriculture, the concept of agroecology and the technology of ecological agriculture emerge, which promotes agricultural production by conserving the elemental natural resources of food production such as soil, water and biodiversity. These actions are based on respect for rural communities (who provide the genetic material best adapted to local conditions) and the ethical and human principles in carrying out these activities.

Organic agriculture, as the implementation of agroecological science, can be highly productive and at the same time sustainable in production and long-term conservation in order to be able to supply food to a growing human population. From this perspective, the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems cannot and should not abandon conventional practices but must consider traditional practices to justify their sustainability. It is about scientifically designing new agricultural concepts and technologies, based on current ecological methods and knowledge and the traditional principles of conservation of natural resources that many rural communities have and in which they cover their food needs without requiring large external inputs in their production cycle.[8]​ In accordance with this Gliessman mentions that Agroecology must integrate science, technology and practice, and movements for social change.[9]​.

European countries, followed by other highly industrialized ones such as the United States and Australia, have implemented some agroecological principles in their agricultural development policies but they have not had much impact due to companies that manufacture transgenic seeds, agrotoxics and other chemical components oriented to the practice of large-scale conventional agriculture such as Monsanto, Río Tinto Alcan, among others, have exerted a lot of pressure to promote a model of conventional industrialized agriculture with high environmental impact, and despite the fact that the harmfulness of their products for humans and soils, even with distribution prohibitions in countries like France, still continue to distribute their highly toxic products in countries in Asia and Latin America, where agroecological trends are currently gaining new strength, opposing the use of these products that in many countries such as Paraguay, are putting ancient and ancient seeds from the Mato Grosso region and the Paraná River Basin in danger of extinction.

Agroecology does not provide recipes, technical packages, standards, or prescriptions. It is based on the application of five basic principles:[10] recycling, efficiency, diversity, regulation, and synergies "Synergy (physical)"). The choice of management practices and technologies for the application of these principles is always site-specific, determined by a specific socio-ecological context. The lack of standards and certification systems differentiates agroecology from organic agriculture. The FAO also finds ten key elements for agroecology among which we find diversity, joint creation and exchange of knowledge, synergies, efficiency, recycling, resilience, human and social values, food culture and traditions, responsible governance, and circular and solidarity economy.[11]​.

Adaptability: which consists of not modifying the cultivation site to try to satisfy the needs of the species, but rather using a strategy to adapt their biological and genetic potential to the conditions of the place.

Natural recycling: to ensure favorable soil conditions by increasing biotic activity, availability and contribution of nutrients and moisture retention, through the management of organic matter, recycling of biomass and increasing coverage.

Preservation: to ensure much more the health of the agroecosystem as a whole, than the product of a particular cropping system. Increasing biological interactions and synergies between biodiversity components, promoting key ecological processes and services.

Technological rationality: to progressively eliminate the use of synthetic external inputs that have the potential to harm the environment, and move towards the use of inputs of natural origin and renewable energy sources, both for nutritional contribution and for the management of pests, diseases and weeds.

Ecological Restoration: according to the International Society for Ecological Restoration, it consists of "assisting the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged or destroyed. In agroecology, techniques can be used to help recover spaces that were damaged by conventional agriculture which used agrochemicals, using science as the main parameter: good tillage, organic fertilizers, symbiosis between plants.

• - Portal:Rural. Content related to Rural.

• - Portal:Ecology. Content related to Ecology.

• - Agroecology. Theoretical bases for the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems. Editors: Sarandón, Santiago Javier Flores, Claudia. 2014.

• - Agroecology. Project Regeneration.

• - Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí.

• - Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture.

• - Agroecology and Ecodevelopment Network of the Region of Murcia.

• - Agriculture, environment and development, GreenFacts summary of the International Assessment of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies for Development (IAASTD).

• - Colombian Network of Organic Agriculture. Antioquia Sectional.

• - Another agriculture for another climate (article by Esther Vivas, public).

• - The agri-food chain: a monopoly from origin to end (article by Esther Vivas, ECOS Bulletin).

• - Allpa Magazine, Seed Guardians Network (various articles, to download, on agroecology).

The approach of conventional agriculture has always sought to increase the production of agricultural crops without considering the subsequent consequences on the environment in which it is practiced. This is the case, for example, with intensive soil tillage, monoculture practices, indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers, chemical control of pests and weeds, intensive use of water from deep wells for agriculture and genetic manipulation, among other practices of modern agriculture.

Agroecologists do not always agree about what agroecology is, or should be, in the long term. Different definitions of the term agroecology can be distinguished largely by the specificity with which the term “ecology” is defined; Thus, agroecology is defined by the OECD as "the study of the relationship between agricultural crops and the environment." And it is one of the most appropriate in all approaches to what agroecology is.[7]​

These are practices promoted and applied under the traditional agricultural approach. It should not be neglected or denied that the application of conventional technological practices and innovations increases agricultural production, but it cannot be denied that their practice in agricultural activities deteriorates natural resources in a considerable and occasionally irreversible manner.

The deterioration of the vegetation cover, soil erosion (wind, water, fertility), the increase in soil salinity, a considerable decrease in groundwater tables, the loss of agricultural biological and genetic diversity, the constant resistance of agricultural pests and diseases, the silting of dams, natural flooding, the eutrophication of lakes and air pollution, are some of the multiple consequences of agriculture based on agrochemicals and the use of large amounts of energy.

Given the multiple negative factors of conventional agriculture, the concept of agroecology and the technology of ecological agriculture emerge, which promotes agricultural production by conserving the elemental natural resources of food production such as soil, water and biodiversity. These actions are based on respect for rural communities (who provide the genetic material best adapted to local conditions) and the ethical and human principles in carrying out these activities.

Organic agriculture, as the implementation of agroecological science, can be highly productive and at the same time sustainable in production and long-term conservation in order to be able to supply food to a growing human population. From this perspective, the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems cannot and should not abandon conventional practices but must consider traditional practices to justify their sustainability. It is about scientifically designing new agricultural concepts and technologies, based on current ecological methods and knowledge and the traditional principles of conservation of natural resources that many rural communities have and in which they cover their food needs without requiring large external inputs in their production cycle.[8]​ In accordance with this Gliessman mentions that Agroecology must integrate science, technology and practice, and movements for social change.[9]​.

European countries, followed by other highly industrialized ones such as the United States and Australia, have implemented some agroecological principles in their agricultural development policies but they have not had much impact due to companies that manufacture transgenic seeds, agrotoxics and other chemical components oriented to the practice of large-scale conventional agriculture such as Monsanto, Río Tinto Alcan, among others, have exerted a lot of pressure to promote a model of conventional industrialized agriculture with high environmental impact, and despite the fact that the harmfulness of their products for humans and soils, even with distribution prohibitions in countries like France, still continue to distribute their highly toxic products in countries in Asia and Latin America, where agroecological trends are currently gaining new strength, opposing the use of these products that in many countries such as Paraguay, are putting ancient and ancient seeds from the Mato Grosso region and the Paraná River Basin in danger of extinction.

Agroecology does not provide recipes, technical packages, standards, or prescriptions. It is based on the application of five basic principles:[10] recycling, efficiency, diversity, regulation, and synergies "Synergy (physical)"). The choice of management practices and technologies for the application of these principles is always site-specific, determined by a specific socio-ecological context. The lack of standards and certification systems differentiates agroecology from organic agriculture. The FAO also finds ten key elements for agroecology among which we find diversity, joint creation and exchange of knowledge, synergies, efficiency, recycling, resilience, human and social values, food culture and traditions, responsible governance, and circular and solidarity economy.[11]​.

Adaptability: which consists of not modifying the cultivation site to try to satisfy the needs of the species, but rather using a strategy to adapt their biological and genetic potential to the conditions of the place.

Natural recycling: to ensure favorable soil conditions by increasing biotic activity, availability and contribution of nutrients and moisture retention, through the management of organic matter, recycling of biomass and increasing coverage.

Preservation: to ensure much more the health of the agroecosystem as a whole, than the product of a particular cropping system. Increasing biological interactions and synergies between biodiversity components, promoting key ecological processes and services.

Technological rationality: to progressively eliminate the use of synthetic external inputs that have the potential to harm the environment, and move towards the use of inputs of natural origin and renewable energy sources, both for nutritional contribution and for the management of pests, diseases and weeds.

Ecological Restoration: according to the International Society for Ecological Restoration, it consists of "assisting the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged or destroyed. In agroecology, techniques can be used to help recover spaces that were damaged by conventional agriculture which used agrochemicals, using science as the main parameter: good tillage, organic fertilizers, symbiosis between plants.

• - Portal:Rural. Content related to Rural.

• - Portal:Ecology. Content related to Ecology.

• - Agroecology. Theoretical bases for the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems. Editors: Sarandón, Santiago Javier Flores, Claudia. 2014.

• - Agroecology. Project Regeneration.

• - Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí.

• - Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture.

• - Agroecology and Ecodevelopment Network of the Region of Murcia.

• - Agriculture, environment and development, GreenFacts summary of the International Assessment of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies for Development (IAASTD).

• - Colombian Network of Organic Agriculture. Antioquia Sectional.

• - Another agriculture for another climate (article by Esther Vivas, public).

• - The agri-food chain: a monopoly from origin to end (article by Esther Vivas, ECOS Bulletin).

• - Allpa Magazine, Seed Guardians Network (various articles, to download, on agroecology).