Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development

Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development is a comprehensive source for developing sustainable farming systems. With the inclusion of research theory and examples using the principles of cropping system design, students will gain a unique understanding of the technical, biological, ecological, economic, and sociological aspects of farming systems science for rural livelihoods.

Editors Snapp and Pound provide a much-needed synthetic overview of the emerging area of agroecology applications to transforming farming systems and supporting rural innovation. A companion website for training and teaching features learning modules, student exercises, case studies, illustrative power point presentations, and reference links.

The wide range of subjects, integrated references, and companion website, make this core reading for courses in international agricultural systems and management, sustainable agricultural management, and cropping systems.

• Coverage provides students with an enhanced understanding of how research can be harnessed for sustainable agriculture
• Incorporates social, biological, chemical, and geographical aspects important to agroecology
• Addresses social and development issues related to farming systems
• Companion Website for training and teaching: learning modules, student exercises, case studies, illustrative power point presentations, and reference links

Sieglinde's research interests center around agroecology, particularly integrated approaches to soil and crop management for sustainable production. Sieglinde is committed to linking on-station research experimentation to participatory approaches, working with interdisciplinary teams in the Great Lakes Region of USA, and beyond. Scholarship, extension and farmer engagement that involves participation of multiple stakeholders is central to her extension approach.

Dr. Barry Pound started as an agronomist and has steadily widened his experience through farming-systems approaches to sustainable-livelihood development and agricultural innovation systems. His interests include bridging the interfaces between social and natural sciences, and between research and extension. Currently, Dr. Pound is a visitng fellow in Livelihoods and Rural Innovation, Livelihoods and Institutions Department Natural Resource Institute, University of Greenwich Kent, UK.