The future of farming systems research.

Collinson, M.; Lightfoot, C.

doi:10.1079/9780851994055.0391

Cited by 25 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…The concept of integration here is broader than previously conceived in farming systems research (Collinson 2000), incorporating both a participatory approach (Chambers et al 1989) and nested scale agro-ecosystem (Jackson et al 2013) and institutional aspects (Clark et al 2011). There has been a recent resurgence of interest in systems research in agricultural development (Keating et al 2010), echoing the application of general system theory in agriculture, pioneered several decades ago (Spedding 1979;Conway 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrated agro-ecosystem and livelihood systems approach for the poor and vulnerable in dry areas

et al. 2013

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More than 400 million people in the developing world depend on dryland agriculture for their livelihoods. Dryland agriculture involves a complex combination of productive components: staple crops, vegetables, livestock, trees and fish interacting principally with rangeland, cultivated areas and watercourses. Managing risk and enhancing productivity through diversification and sustainable intensification is critical to securing and improving rural livelihoods. The main biophysical constraints are natural resource limitations and degradation, particularly water scarcity and encroaching desertification. Social and economic limitations, such as poor access to markets and inputs, weak governance and lack of information about alternative production technologies also limit the options available to farmers. Past efforts to address these constraints by focusing on individual components have either not been successful or are now facing a declining rate of impact, indicating the need for new integrated approaches to research for development of dryland systems. This article outlines the characteristics of such an approach, integrating agro-ecosystem and livelihoods approaches and presents a range of empirical examples of its application in dryland contexts. The authors draw attention to new insights about the design of research required to accelerate impact by integrating across disciplines and scales.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrated agro-ecosystem and livelihood systems approach for the poor and vulnerable in dry areas

et al. 2013

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“…Furthermore, farmers were often involved in the research process, e.g. to understand their norms, values and decisions rules better (Bellon et al, 1985;Collinson, 2000).…”

Section: Applying Systems Thinking To Farmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptiveness to enhance the sustainability of farming systems. A review

Darnhofer

Bellon²,

Dedieu³

et al. 2010

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

326

225

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-During the last decade the context in which farmers must manage their farm has changed rapidly, and often with little warning. Dramatic price swings for agricultural commodities, more stringent quality requirements, new environmental regulations, the debates surrounding genetically modified crops, extreme climatic events, the demand for energy crops, the revision of the Common Agricultural Policy and the consequences of the financial crisis all create uncertainty regarding future threats and potentials. During such turbulent times, a one-sided focus on efficient production is no longer enough. Farmers also need to be able to cope with unexpected events and to adapt to new developments. Based on a literature review, we identify three strategies that strengthen the adaptive capacity of a farm: learning through experimenting and monitoring its outcomes, ensuring a flexible farm organisation to increase the options for new activities by the farm family, and diversifying to spread risks and create buffers. Implementing these strategies enlarges the farmer's room to manoeuvre and allows identifying transition options. These options do not depend only on the farm itself, but also on the farmer's ability to mobilise external resources and to engage in collective action. Change is then no longer seen as a disturbance, but as a trigger for the reorganisation of resources, and for the renewal of the farm organisation and activities. Implementing these strategies comes at a cost, so that farmers need to tackle the inevitable trade-offs between efficiency and adaptability. However, unless farmers master this challenge they cannot ensure the sustainability of their farms.adaptive farm management / adaptive capacity / evolutionary approach / complex adaptive systems

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“…Food shortages, due to the reduced workforce and migration from the countryside to cities, demanded a solution to this problem; the labor supply becomes limited and expensive (Collinson, 2000).…”

Section: The Agriculture As We Knowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution, epigenetics and resistance – troublesome weeds

Concenço¹

2016

RBHerbicidas

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-The aim of the present text is to recall basic concepts about evolution, neo-darwinism and mechanisms of plant selection, pooling this knowledge into the weed science as a background which paves the way for the appearance of weed biotypes resistant to herbicides. Some questions which need to be answered regarding current concepts in weed resistance are risen. Epigenetics, secondary metabolism and environment related studies may change our view into plant resistance to herbicides. Keywords: neo darwinism; herbicide resistance; chemical groups Resumo -O objetivo do presente texto é recapitular conceitos básicos sobre evolução, neo darwinismo e mecanismos de seleção de plantas, conjugando este conhecimento à área de plantas daninhas como um contexto que pavimenta o caminho para o aparecimento de biotipos de plantas daninhas resistentes aos herbicidas. Algumas questões que necessitam de respostas relativas a conceitos atuais em resistência de plantas são levantadas. Estudos relacionados à epigenética, metabolismo secundário e efeitos do ambiente podem mudar nossa visão sobre a resistência de plantas a herbicidas. Palavras-chaves: neo darwinismo; resistência a herbicidas; grupos químicos

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The future of farming systems research.

Cited by 25 publications

References 0 publications

An integrated agro-ecosystem and livelihood systems approach for the poor and vulnerable in dry areas

An integrated agro-ecosystem and livelihood systems approach for the poor and vulnerable in dry areas

Adaptiveness to enhance the sustainability of farming systems. A review

Evolution, epigenetics and resistance – troublesome weeds

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