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

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

1;Front Cover;12;Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation for Development;43;Copyright Page;54;Contents;65;List of Contributors;106;Section I: Re-inventing Farming Systems;116.1;Chapter 1: Introduction;116.1.1;Agricultural Systems in Context;126.1.2;Evolving Agricultural Systems Research;186.1.3;Different Paths Taken;226.1.4;Impact at Local and Regional Scales;276.1.5;Local Institutions for Agricultural Innovation;296.1.6;Catalyzing Directions of Change;326.1.7;Road Map;346.1.8;References and Resources;356.1.9;Internet Resources;366.2;Chapter 2: Livelihoods and Rural Innovation;376.2.1;Farming-Related Livelihoods;386.2.2;New Directions for Agricultural Research and Development;486.2.3;Conclusions;606.2.4;References and Resources;616.3;Chapter 3: Agroecology: Principles and Practice;636.3.1;Introduction;646.3.2;Ecosystem Drivers;666.3.3;Agroecozones;696.3.4;Community Structure;706.3.5;Organism Niche;726.3.6;Community Evolution;746.3.7;Plant Growth Types;776.3.8;Ecological Principles Applied to Agriculture;816.3.9;Farming System by Agroecology;926.3.10;Application of Ecological Principles to a Changing World;956.3.11;References and Resources;966.4;Chapter 4: Designing for the Long Term: Sustainable Agriculture;996.4.1;Introduction;1006.4.2;Indigenous System Models;1026.4.3;Biocomplexity of Sustainable Development;1076.4.4;Sustainable Agriculture Design;1106.4.5;Biodiversity;1106.4.6;Resource Efficiency;1206.4.7;Productivity and Economics;1236.4.8;Resilience;1266.4.9;Putting Sustainable Agriculture in Practice;1326.4.10;References and Resources;1356.4.11;Internet Resources;1367;Section II: Resources for Agricultural Development;1397.1;Chapter 5: Agricultural Change and Low-Input Technology;1397.1.1;Introduction;1407.1.2;Low External Input Technology;1417.1.3;Labor;1477.1.4;Knowledge;1527.1.5;Implications for Rural Development Strategies;1597.1.6;Conclusions;1657.1.7;References;1677.2;Chapter 6: Ecologically Based Nutrient Management;1717.2.1;Nutrient Management As Applied Ecology;1727.2.2;The Basics of Nutrient Cycling;1737.2.3;The Roles of Plants and Microorganisms in Cycling Nutrients;1827.2.4;Concepts and Strategies for Managing Complexity;1937.2.5;Developing Site-Specific Ecological Nutrient Management Systems;2117.2.6;References;2157.3;Chapter 7: Participatory Plant Breeding: Developing Improved and Relevant Crop Varieties with Farmers;2217.3.1;Introduction;2227.3.2;Theory of Participatory Plant Breeding;2247.3.3;Practical Elements of PPB in View of Agroecological Issues;2387.3.4;Examples of Successful Participatory Plant Breeding for Marginal Environments;2517.3.5;Types of Impact Achievable through PPB for Sustainable Development of Farming Systems and Farmers' Livelihoods;2567.3.6;References and Resources;2597.4;Chapter 8: Livestock, Livelihoods, and Innovation;2637.4.1;Livestock and Livelihoods;2647.4.2;Livestock Research and Innovation;2737.4.3;References;2888;Section III: Context for Sustainable Agricultural Development;2918.1;Chapter 9: Gender and Agrarian Inequality at the Local Scale;2918.1.1;Introduction;2918.1.2;The Study of Gender Relations;2928.1.3;Gender and Unequal Access to Productive Resources in Agricultural Systems;2958.1.4;Understanding Gender Dynamics at the Household Scale in Agricultural Systems;3038.1.5;Case Study: Gender, Inequality, and Agroecological Approaches in Northern Malawi;3088.1.6;Conclusion: Addressing Gender Inequalities in Agricultural Systems;3148.1.7;References;3158.2;Chapter 10: The Nature of Agricultural Innovation;3198.2.1;What Is Agricultural Innovation?;3208.2.2;Theories about Drivers of Innovation;3228.2.3;Processes of Innovation;3258.2.4;Supporting Innovation;3308.2.5;References;3328.3;Chapter 11: Outreach to Support Rural Innovation;3358.3.1;Introduction;3368.3.2;Relevance of Extension;3378.3.3;Enhancing Client Orientation at Different Scales;3398.3.4;Demand-Driven Models;344