Farming Systems Research has three core characteristics: it builds on systems thinking, it depends on the close collaboration between social and biophysical sciences, and it relies on participation to build co-learning processes. Farming Systems Research posits that to contribute towards sustainable rural development, both interdisciplinary collaborations and local actor engagement are needed. Together, they allow for changes in understanding and changes in practices. This book gives an overview of the insights generated in 20 years of Farming Systems Research. It retraces the emergence and development of Farming Systems Research in Europe, summarises the state-of-the-art for key areas, and provides an outlook on new explorations, especially those tackling the dynamic nature of farming systems and their interaction with the natural environment and the context of action.

Toward a new institutional model of farmer participation in research on natural resource management and germplasm improvement; Developing a natural resource management technology for a specific agroenvironment: Mucuna-maize rotation on the hillsides of northern honduras; Land use systems and dynamics in Pucallpa, Peru; Strategic systems research for the Latin American Savannas; Developing improved pasture systems for forest margins; Adapting participatory research methods for developing integrated crop management for cassava-based systems Northeast Brazil; Soil conservation strategies that take into account farmer perspectives; Developing sustainable cassava production systems with farmers in Asia; Developing forage tecnologies with smallholders in East Kalimantan, Indonesia; Farmer's independent experimentation with green manure and/or cover crops: A component of participatory research for improving Ugandan Farming Systems; Designing sustainable, commercial, farmer seed production systems in Africa: Case studies From Uganda; Institucional Innovation as an entry for system-level technological change; Participatory sysems research toward the future.

Review of reports from various parts of India.

This book provides a detailed history of farming systems research (FSR). While it includes the application of FSR to developed country agriculture, its main focus is on FSR in its original role, with small scale, resource-poor farmers in less developed countries. There are some 40 contributions from nearly 50 contributors from 20 countries, illustrating both the diversity and yet the coherence of FSR. The five parts of the book cover: (1) FSR - understanding farmers and their farming (FSR origins and perspectives; understanding farming systems); (2) the applications of farming systems research (FSR in technology choice and development; FSR in extension and policy formulation); (3) institutional commitment to FSR (FSR: some institutional experiences in national agricultural research; dimensions of the organization of FSR; training for FSR); (4) FSR: the professional dimension (regional and international associations; FSR and the professional disciplines); and (5) cutting edge methods, abiding issues and the future for FSR.