Agroecology
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For his Master's thesis, Patrick Boyle explored how agroecology—an integrative approach to agriculture—can serve as a framework for transitioning the region’s expansive agricultural landscape toward sustainability, resilience, and community well-being.
With the growing uncertainties posed by climate change, Patrick aimed to develop a framework that not only addresses these escalating threats but also promotes healthy lifestyles and stronger community connections.
Learn more about agroecology and Patrick’s work below.
What is Agroecology?
"Agroecology is the integration of research, education, action, and change that brings sustainability to all parts of the food system: ecological, economic, and social. The approach is grounded in ecological thinking where a holistic, systems-level understanding of food system sustainability is required. " - Steve Gliessman, Defining Agroecology
"It is transdisciplinary in that it values all forms of knowledge and experiece in food system changes."(Gliessman, S. 2018)
"It is action-oriented because it confronts the economic and political power structures of the current industrial food system with aternative social structures and policy action"(Gliessman, S. 2018)
"It is participatory in that it requires the involvement of all stakeholders from the farm to the table and everyone in between" (Gliessman, S. 2018)
Breaking it Down
Agoecology can be broken down into 13 guiding principles and 10 action-oriented elements. "The 10 elements help to frame agroecology in an inclusive way, without privileging one definition, stakeholder group, or region."
"The 10 Elements are interlinked and interdependent. Each element is essential, reflecting the holistic and integrated nature of agroecology. " They can be used as an analytical tool for evaluating ecological transitions (Barrios, E. et al., 2020).
Click HERE for more information on the agroecology principles & Elements
Agroecology Coalition
Opportunities in the Solidarity Landscape
Patrick uses Landscape Biography, Overlay, and Comparative Analysis methods to understand how agroecology could fit into the local landscape. These methods consisted of in-person workshops, mapping using GIS, and case studies of many organizations and farms performing agroecology.
Initial Inventory - Existing Agroecology elements along the proposed trail route - All farmsteads are shown in yellow and the orange dots denote those of interest.
Breakdown: how land was categorized into each land use type.
Final Masterplan - Each zone is a different scenario of land uses overlapping. Agroforestry = conservation and agriculture; Conservation buffer = urban growth and conservation; Green innovation = built and agriculture; Regenerative agriculture = conservation and priority agriculture; Solidarity Park = conservation, agriculture, and solidarity; Solidarity Lab = an overlap of all four land uses.
The implementation of the master plan can be seen in this view of the agricultural landscape to the west of the town of Lurano. At its core is agroforestry, with a significantly expanded tree canopy and a shift toward smaller, diversified plots edged with trees. Former hay meadows, once inaccessible due to heavy machinery, are now public-friendly spaces. A new shared-use trail weaves through ten unique scenarios, including intercropping, permaculture, floodplain restoration, regenerative farming, etc.
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