Development trend and enlightenment of overseas agro-ecology

Local and international literature related to agro-ecology rapidly grew in recent years. This was recognition of the fact that agricultural research and agro-production practices guided by reductionism was in crisis and that agro-ecology vitality depended on cutting-edge thinking and practice of agriculture. The range of agro-ecology considered in its study was divided into "hard" and "soft" agro-ecology. Agro-ecology was also advanced as not only a discipline of science and practice of agriculture, but also the movement of farmers. As a practice, agro-ecology was closely related to "eco-agriculutre" in China, including four levels of change. Replacement of traditional techniques by resource-saving techniques was the first level change. Substitution of traditional inputs with alternative inputs was the second level change. Structural changes of agro-ecosystems constituted the third level change. Changes in food supply chains were considered as the forth level change. Agro-ecology as the movement of farmers prevailed in Latin America and the U.S. agro-ecology movement was becoming an important form of organized exchanges of experiences in agro-ecological practices among farmers for improved livelihoods and protected interests and rights of farmers. These movements were affecting government decisions, food production and supply. As a discipline of science, agro-ecology not only needed further quantitative and interdisciplinary research, but also development of advanced methods of up-scale interpretations of research results. This overview of international development of agro-ecology facilitated reliable analysis of the merits and demerits of agro-ecological development in China. The broader implications for future agro-ecological development in China were also discussed.