Beyond Romance and Rhetoric: Sustainable Agriculture and Farming Systems Research
This paper outlines the principles and roles of farming systems research (FSR). It suggests that as sustainability becomes a concern, FSR must progress beyond a systems perspective with a predetermined crop focus to a farmer problem focus. Long-term objectives can be addressed through a natural resource systems focus and a livelihood focus. In all cases, FSR should be multidisciplinary. Realising the potential of FSR requires seeing beyond romantic notions about farmers and traditional farmers.