Ebook: Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic

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.

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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.
We hope this book will serve as an inspiration for all those who seek an alternative approach to research in farming and rural development. One that builds on the reflexivity of researchers, one that takes the role of human subjectivities and perceptions seriously, one that gives voice to farmers, one that emphasises participation and co-learning processes, one that focuses on interactions between the elements, one that allows to capture interdependencies and their dynamics.
There is no doubt that Farming Systems Research has much to offer to answer the challenges faced by rural areas in the current turbulent and uncertain times. The book is thus aimed at practitioners, at graduate students and at researchers who seek new inspiration outside the mainstream, who take into account the ethical dimension of their work, and who seek encouragement to deepen their reflexivity about the meaning of professional practice and about their approach to research.

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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.
We hope this book will serve as an inspiration for all those who seek an alternative approach to research in farming and rural development. One that builds on the reflexivity of researchers, one that takes the role of human subjectivities and perceptions seriously, one that gives voice to farmers, one that emphasises participation and co-learning processes, one that focuses on interactions between the elements, one that allows to capture interdependencies and their dynamics.
There is no doubt that Farming Systems Research has much to offer to answer the challenges faced by rural areas in the current turbulent and uncertain times. The book is thus aimed at practitioners, at graduate students and at researchers who seek new inspiration outside the mainstream, who take into account the ethical dimension of their work, and who seek encouragement to deepen their reflexivity about the meaning of professional practice and about their approach to research.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Farming Systems Research: an approach to inquiry....Pages 3-31
The origins of the European IFSA: the first meetings and the agenda renewal....Pages 33-48
Early Farming Systems Research and Extension experience in Africa and possible relevance for FSR in Europe....Pages 49-71
Textual analysis and scientometric mapping of the dynamic knowledge in and around the IFSA community....Pages 73-94
Methodological themes in Farming Systems Research and implications for learning in higher education....Pages 95-115
Front Matter....Pages 117-117
How should we farm? The ethical dimension of farming systems....Pages 119-139
Systems practice: making the systems in Farming Systems Research effective....Pages 141-157
The role of action-oriented learning theories for change in agriculture and rural networks....Pages 159-177
Learning in European agricultural and rural networks: building a systemic research agenda....Pages 179-200
Extension systems and change facilitation for agricultural and rural development....Pages 201-227
Agri-Food systems and territorial development: innovations, new dynamics and changing governance mechanisms....Pages 229-256
The Territory Agronomy Approach in research, education and training....Pages 257-280
Simulation models in Farming Systems Research: potential and challenges....Pages 281-306
Reshaping boundaries between farming systems and the environment....Pages 307-333
Front Matter....Pages 335-335
Dynamics in farming systems: of changes and choices....Pages 337-363
Farms and farmers facing change: The adaptive approach....Pages 365-385
Observing farming systems: Insights from social systems theory....Pages 387-403
Re-design and co-design of farming systems. An overview of methods and practices....Pages 405-429
Stimulating transitions towards sustainable farming systems....Pages 431-455
Evolution of systems approaches to agricultural innovation: concepts, analysis and interventions....Pages 457-483
Back Matter....Pages 485-490

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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.
We hope this book will serve as an inspiration for all those who seek an alternative approach to research in farming and rural development. One that builds on the reflexivity of researchers, one that takes the role of human subjectivities and perceptions seriously, one that gives voice to farmers, one that emphasises participation and co-learning processes, one that focuses on interactions between the elements, one that allows to capture interdependencies and their dynamics.
There is no doubt that Farming Systems Research has much to offer to answer the challenges faced by rural areas in the current turbulent and uncertain times. The book is thus aimed at practitioners, at graduate students and at researchers who seek new inspiration outside the mainstream, who take into account the ethical dimension of their work, and who seek encouragement to deepen their reflexivity about the meaning of professional practice and about their approach to research.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Farming Systems Research: an approach to inquiry....Pages 3-31
The origins of the European IFSA: the first meetings and the agenda renewal....Pages 33-48
Early Farming Systems Research and Extension experience in Africa and possible relevance for FSR in Europe....Pages 49-71
Textual analysis and scientometric mapping of the dynamic knowledge in and around the IFSA community....Pages 73-94
Methodological themes in Farming Systems Research and implications for learning in higher education....Pages 95-115
Front Matter....Pages 117-117
How should we farm? The ethical dimension of farming systems....Pages 119-139
Systems practice: making the systems in Farming Systems Research effective....Pages 141-157
The role of action-oriented learning theories for change in agriculture and rural networks....Pages 159-177
Learning in European agricultural and rural networks: building a systemic research agenda....Pages 179-200
Extension systems and change facilitation for agricultural and rural development....Pages 201-227
Agri-Food systems and territorial development: innovations, new dynamics and changing governance mechanisms....Pages 229-256
The Territory Agronomy Approach in research, education and training....Pages 257-280
Simulation models in Farming Systems Research: potential and challenges....Pages 281-306
Reshaping boundaries between farming systems and the environment....Pages 307-333
Front Matter....Pages 335-335
Dynamics in farming systems: of changes and choices....Pages 337-363
Farms and farmers facing change: The adaptive approach....Pages 365-385
Observing farming systems: Insights from social systems theory....Pages 387-403
Re-design and co-design of farming systems. An overview of methods and practices....Pages 405-429
Stimulating transitions towards sustainable farming systems....Pages 431-455
Evolution of systems approaches to agricultural innovation: concepts, analysis and interventions....Pages 457-483
Back Matter....Pages 485-490
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