The agrarian transition in the Mekong Region has led to the simplification of agricultural landscapes, focusing on a narrow range of ecosystem service functions to boost agricultural production and economic outcomes. However, this approach has resulted in the loss of critical ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, the provision of medicinal resources, and the regulation of nutrient and water cycles, posing a major sustainability challenge and risking ecosystem collapse. To avoid irreversible environmental degradation, alternative agricultural systems that promote both high productivity and ecosystem diversity are essential.
Agroecology is globally recognized as an approach that balances food security, economic development, and environmental sustainability, making it a viable alternative to the industrialization of agriculture in the Mekong Region. With a focus on creating more sustainable food systems—from producers to consumers—agroecology addresses environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. This policy brief outlines the current knowledge of agroecological practices in the region, assesses solutions targeting ecosystem services, and explores how these initiatives can contribute to gender equality and the transformation of agricultural systems. A meta-analysis of 271 publications provides insights into agroecological efforts aimed at restoring ecosystem functions and promoting environmentally positive agricultural landscapes.
