This is a full-length essay of 1500 -2000 words (not more!), excluding bibliography or endnotes.
The paper should answer the research question using short case studies and at least SIX peer-reviewed sources as a minimum (no maximum). 
– Use at least THREE sources from the courses required or optional readings. (I provide the articles in the attachment)
– Provide at least THREE peer-reviewed (journal) sources of your own.
The essay should include an Introduction (that outlines the theoretical framework for understanding the topic) and use examples or a case study to present and analyze the topic. The analysis must reflect your own critical understanding of the problem, and not simply describe it or summarize the analysis of others. The Conclusion should relate the research to at least some of the broader themes of the course and explore implications for policy, activism, or future research. (Broader themes of the course: Food security and international development/ Food security and public health/ The environmental context of agriculture/ The future of smallholder farming).
APA is the preferred style for citations and references.

Research question: Can agro-ecology (i.e. more organic and environmentally-friendly techniques) be as effective in producing food as industrial farming? Support your answer with evidence of productivity, and sustainability of food systems, taking into account the challenge of feeding the 9 billion by 2050.