sustainability Article Agroecology in Mediterranean Europe: Genesis, State and Perspectives Paola Migliorini 1, * ID , Vasileios Gkisakis 2 ID , Victor Gonzalvez 3 , Ma Dolores Raigón 4 and Paolo Bàrberi 5 1 University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 9, 12042 Pollentia, Italy 2 Agroecologiki SP, Agricultural Research & Development, Tryfitsou 3, 70100 Archanes, Crete, Greece; info@agroecologiki.gr 3 Spanish Society for Organic Farming/Agroecology (SEAE), Cami del Port, s/n km 1, Edif ECA, Portón 1 (Apdo 397), E-46470 Catarroja (Valencia), Spain; vgonzalvez@agroecologia.net 4 Escuela Técnica Superior Ingeniería Agronómica y Medio Natural (ETSIAMN), Univ Politécnica Valencia (UPV), Cami de Vera, s/n. Edif 3P, E-46022 Valencia, Spain; mdraigon@qim.upv.es 5 Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy; paolo.barberi@santannapisa.it * Correspondence: p.migliorini@unisg.it; Tel.: +39-(0)172-458-573 Received: 15 June 2018; Accepted: 30 July 2018; Published: 2 August 2018   Abstract: The Mediterranean agro-food systems need to be properly managed. A promising pathway is the transition towards more sustainable food systems through agroecology, which represents the ecology of food systems. In this paper, the state-of-the-art of agroecology is described for three representative euro-Mediterranean countries: Italy, Greece, and Spain. The analysis has been partly based on results of a dedicated literature search and partly on grey literature and expert knowledge. After an overview of the history of agroecology, targeted research and education, collective action (political and social), and some agroecological practices in the three countries are presented. These countries share a rather similar use of the term “agroecology”, but they differ regarding (i) the existence/extent of strong civil and social movements; (ii) the type of study/educational programmes, and the relative importance of different scientific disciplines and their evolution; (iii) the development of political support and legal frameworks; and (iv) the elaboration of concepts to rediscover traditional practices and apply new ones, often taken from the organic agriculture sector. Agroecology is an emerging concept for the Mediterranean agricultural sector, with huge potential due to the peculiar socio-cultural, bio-physical, and political-economic features of the region. To boost agroecology in Mediterranean Europe, better networking and engagement of different actors within a coherent institutional framework supporting the transition is strongly needed. Keywords: science; practice; movement; Italy; Greece; Spain 1. Introduction: Agroecology in the Mediterranean Context Although the green revolution provided a significant increase in food production, the intensification and industrialization of food systems resulted in negative externalities and pressures, both in terms of environmental and socio-economic aspects. Specifically, biodiversity loss; soil fertility decreases due to soil erosion; salinization and acidification; pollution of water, soil, and air; and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, as well as abandonment of rural territories, social injustice, and low quality food and diets, became apparent and well described [1–4]. In order to limit the above mentioned negative externalities, several directives and plans, such as the European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU Nitrate or Water Framework Directives, Sustainability 2018, 10, 2724; doi:10.3390/su10082724 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability