本书是“国家双语教学示范课程”配套教材，也是福建农林大学与加拿大戴尔豪斯大学（Dalhousie University）本科教育合作项目（2012年至今）的成果之一。
本书紧紧围绕“农业是把太阳光转变成人们健康、幸福生活的产业”这一在世界农业面临全面生态化转型背景下对“农业”的本质过程和根本目标的理解，把“农业生态学”定义为地球演化进入“人类世”的农业系统学科，它既是指导农业生态转型的一种科学，也是推进农业生态转型的一种实践，更是实现全球可持续的食品体系的一种社会运动。为此，本书主要介绍农业生态学的学科内涵、农业生态系统的基本过程及人为问题，以及可持续农业生产系统的构建与管理等内容。
本书各章编写采用最新的基于学生学习产出评价的课程教学方法，视角独特，图文并茂，适合作为高等农林院校农业生态学课程的双语教学用书，也可用于农业院校和科研院所研究生考试的参考书，以及作为全国农业生态化转型背景下的生态农业管理和实践者的参考书。

Part Ⅰ Context of Agroecology
Chapter 1 Agriculture and Its Anthropocentric Sciences
1.1 Introduction and the Anthropocene Era
1.2 What Are the “Hot” Issues in Agriculture and Food System?
1.3 Agriculture, Agricultural Sustainability, and Agroecology
1.4 Corn as a Symbol of Agroecology
Chapter 2 Natural Ecosystems Versus Agroecosystems
2.1 Expanding Our Understanding of “Ecology”
2.2 Natural Versus Agricultural Ecosystems
2.3 Energy Flow and Matter Cycle in a Natural Ecosystem
2.4 Agroecosystems Harvest the Sun
2.5 Matter Cycle and Agroecosystems
2.6 Ecological Footprint
Part Ⅱ Basics of Agroecosystems
Chapter 3 Soils as the Basis for Cultivated Ecosystems
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Formation and Classification of Soils
3.3 Ecosystem Services Provided by Soils
3.4 Soil Characteristics
Chapter 4 Water as the Basis for Cultivated Ecosystems
4.1 Water Resources in the Global Ecosystem
4.2 Water in Agroecosystems
4.3 Aspects of Water Management in Agroecosystems
Chapter 5 Linking Agroecosystems to Food Systems
5.1 Food Systems in Association with Agroecosystem
5.2 Agroecological Transition: Making Money and Respecting the Environment
5.3 Concept of Sweet Spot
5.4 Educating Consumers with Agroecology
Chapter 6 Agroecosystem Health and Services
6.1 What Is Ecosystem Health and How Does It Relate to Ecosystem Services?
6.2 Evaluating Agroecosystem Health and Services
Part Ⅲ Digging Deeper into Agroecosystems
Chapter 7 Agroecology and Hunger
7.1 Hunger Concepts and Definitions
7.2 Causes for Hunger
7.3 Green Revolutions
Chapter 8 Wastes or Resources in Agroecosystems?
8.1 What Are Resources and Wastes in Agroecosystems?
8.2 Resources in Agroecosystems
8.3 Waste in Agroecosystems
8.4 Compost: Making It
8.5 Vermicomposting
8.6 Agricultural Uses of Compost
Chapter 9 Global Climate Change and Agriculture
9.1 What Is the Evidence for Climate Change?
9.2 What Is the Greenhouse Effect and How Is It Related to Climate Change?
9.3 Other Greenhouse Gases
9.4 Agriculture’s Contribution to the Greenhouse Gases and Global Climate Change
9.5 Impacts of Global Climate Change on Agriculture
Chapter 10 Agrobiodiversity and Agroecosystem Stability
10.1 Biodiversity and Its Associated Ecosystem Services
10.2 Biodiversity in Agroecosystems
10.3 Regenerating Biodiversity in Agroecosystems
Part Ⅳ Application of Agroecosystem Concepts
Chapter 11 Domestication in Agricultural Systems
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Adaptations for Wild Species Versus Adaptations for Domesticated Species
11.3 How Did Domestication Allow for an Increase in Human Population?
11.4 Domestication and Evolution of Agriculture
11.5 Is Animal Production Good for Humans and the Planet?
11.6 Is Domestication Exploitation?
Chapter 12 Animal Welfare: A Good Life for Animals
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Principal Animal Welfare Issues in Modern Animal Agriculture
12.3 Animal Welfare: Observations and Research
12.4 Scientific Research
12.5 International Approaches to Implementation of Animal Welfare and Their Impacts
Chapter 13 Forage-Based Production Systems
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Forages in Production Systems
13.3 Beneficial Effects of Forages
13.4 Harvesting and Storing Forage
13.5 Forages in Rotations
Chapter 14 Cereal-Based Cropping Systems
14.1 Introduction: Why Are Seeds of Cereals So Great?
14.2 Domestication and Adaptation of Cereals
14.3 The Major Cereal Crops in the World
14.4 Cropping Strategies with Cereals
14.5 Strategies for Improving Cereal Crops to Meet Future Needs
Chapter 15 Vegetable-Based Production Systems
15.1 The Roles of Vegetable in Human Devel