Agroecology : The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systems, Third Edition

Agroecology is a science, a productive practice, and part of a social movement that is at the forefront of transforming food systems to sustainability. Building upon the ecological foundation of the agroecosystem, Agroecology: The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systems, Third Edition provides the essential foundation for understanding sustainability i Content: Sec. I. Introduction to agroecology -- Case for fundamental change in agriculture -- Agroecology and the agroecosystem concept -- Sec. II. Plants and abiotic factors of the environment -- The plant -- Light -- Temperature -- Humidity and rainfall -- Wind -- Soil -- Water in the soil -- Fire -- Sec. III. A more complete autecological perspective -- Biotic factors -- The environmental complex -- Heterotrophic organisms -- Sec. IV. System-level interactions -- Population ecology of agroecosystems -- Genetic resources in agroecosystems -- Species interactions in crop communities -- Agroecosystem diversity -- Disturbance, succession, and agroecosystem management -- Animals in agroecosystems -- Landscape diversity -- Sec. V. The transition to sustainability -- Converting to ecologically based management -- Indicators of sustainability -- Sec. VI. Bringing about a sustainable world food system -- Agriculture, society, and agroecology -- Community and culture in the remaking of the food system -- From sustainable agroecosystems to a sustainable food system PRAISE FOR THE SECOND EDITION: "It is clear, insightful, well-illustrated and referenced, and the 21 chapters contain many useful case studies. It deserves to be in every library, and is a pleasure to read. This is a valuable manual, and vital for all concerned with learning and teaching in agricultural courses. It deserves to be widely used."--Jules Pretty OBE, Experimental Agriculture, Vol. 43 (4),2007 "The author clearly is an authority in the field of agro-ecology and teaches on the subject. ... Agronomists and biologists, as well as general scholars and people interested by sustainability as an attitude or life style wi11learn about how to put principles into (cropping and whole food chain) practice. All in all: a good read!" --Patrick Van Damme, University of Gent, Economic Botany, 63 (4),2009 Providing the theoretical and conceptual framework for this growing field, 'Agroecology' develops the understanding of environmental factors and complexities affecting agricultural crops and animals. --Provided by publisher Resource added for the Sustainable Food & Agriculture Systems program 100903