How a Small Agroecological Farm Can Nourish a Person—and the Planet

Can a tiny plot of land feed a person all year while dramatically reducing environmental harm? A new case study published in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation answers with a compelling yes. Through a life-cycle analysis of a 740 m² agroecological farm in the Mediterranean, researchers found that a diverse, low-input farming system can not only meet a person’s full nutritional needs but do so with far less environmental impact than conventional agriculture.

The implications are wide-reaching. In a world grappling with food insecurity, rising emissions, and ecological degradation, this study suggests that agroecology isn't just idealistic—it's highly efficient.

Rethinking Food Systems: A Nutritional and Ecological Imperative

The global food system is under pressure. Modern agriculture feeds billions, but often at the expense of ecosystems, biodiversity, and long-term food security. In this context, agroecology—farming grounded in ecological principles—has gained traction as a sustainable alternative. Yet, critics often question its productivity and scalability.

This study, led by Alik Pelman and colleagues from institutions including Technion and the PLOS research network, set out to answer a pivotal question:

Can a small-scale agroecological system provide a nutritionally adequate diet with fewer environmental costs than conventional methods?

The Case Study: A Mediterranean Micro-Farm

The farm under study covered just 0.075 hectares (740 m²) and used agroecological principles like polyculture, crop rotation, and organic inputs (e.g., compost, not synthetic fertilizers). Over the span of a year, researchers recorded crop yields, nutritional output, and environmental impacts, and compared the findings against two conventional farming scenarios:

• BAU (Business-As-Usual): Industrial monocultures with high external inputs.
• MIX: Same crops as the agroecological farm but cultivated with conventional methods.

Key data collected included:

• Food production by weight, calorie, and nutrient content
• Greenhouse gas emissions, land and water use, and impacts on biodiversity, eutrophication, and acidification

Results: A Win for Nutrition and the Environment

Nutritional Sufficiency from the Soil Up

The farm yielded 728 kg of food annually, mostly vegetables, legumes, cereals, olives, fruit, honey, and carob syrup. Daily averages from this production included:

• 2,564 kcal
• 85g protein
• 118g fat
• 293g carbohydrates
• 800mg calcium, 31mg iron, 806mg magnesium, 13mg zinc

These figures met or exceeded the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for almost all key nutrients for an adult male—most notably surpassing 200% of iron needs and 150% of zinc.

Nutrient distribution was also balanced:

49% carbohydrates, 37% fats, and 14% protein, well within accepted macronutrient ratios.

Outperforming Conventional Farms per Kilogram

When comparing per kilogram of food, the agroecological system delivered:

• 66% more nutritional value than conventional systems
• 31% to 88% lower environmental impacts across indicators like emissions, water use, and land degradation
• Up to 414% lower environmental impact compared to MIX scenarios

Land Use Efficiency and Environmental Impact

On a per hectare basis:

• Agroecology and MIX performed similarly in nutritional yield
• However, agroecology outperformed MIX and BAU in environmental efficiency, with:
  • 64% lower composite environmental impact per kg
  • 79% lower impact per square meter

These results held even under sensitivity tests—adjusting yields or composting scenarios didn’t alter the agroecological system’s superiority.

Policy and Practical Implications: More Than Just a Farm

A Model for Climate and Food Policy

This study offers policymakers clear evidence that small-scale, ecologically designed farms can contribute meaningfully to food security, climate mitigation, and rural resilience. It supports:

• Food sovereignty frameworks
• Agroecology subsidies and incentives
• Nutrition-integrated agricultural policy

"One person’s nutritional needs can be met on 740 m² with minimal labor and drastically reduced emissions," the authors emphasize.

Social Relevance and Food Sovereignty

Surprisingly, maintaining this farm only required one day of work per month, suggesting potential for:

• Greater self-sufficiency
• Enhanced community resilience
• Revitalized rural livelihoods

In regions like Latin America, where smallholder farming is common, such systems could support household nutrition, environmental stewardship, and poverty reduction simultaneously.

Authors’ Recommendations

1. Incorporate nutrition in agricultural policy and LCA models.
2. Support agroecology through policy, research, and technical assistance.
3. Explore labor and economic scalability in diverse contexts.

A Vision for the Future: Small, Sustainable, and Sufficient

This research challenges the narrative that bigger is better in agriculture. Instead, it presents a new paradigm: better is better—and in this case, better means nutrient-rich, climate-smart, and locally adapted systems.

With just a small plot and smart design, a farmer—or even a family—can produce a year’s worth of food with a fraction of the ecological cost. In a warming world, this isn’t just good news—it’s a necessary shift.

Topics of interest

Biodiversity