Agroecology: The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systems, Second Edition

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 408 pages
• Published by: CRC
• Edition: 2nd Edition November 15, 2006
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0849328454
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0849328459
• Book Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 1.6 pounds

Product Review
…… very clearly and thoroughly educates the reader in the principles of ecology, while making the case that to approach sustainability, agriculture must be ecologically based. … equally valuable to agriculture students whose course of study follows more conventional dogma; graduate students in rural sociology and agricultural economics; and those planning careers dealing with food security, community development, and agricultural policy issues.
-- J.C. Mayne, USDA Southern SARE program, University of Georgia, American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, Vol. 15

…… very clearly and thoroughly educates the reader in the principles of ecology, while making the case that to approach sustainability, agriculture must be ecologically based. … equally valuable to agriculture students whose course of study follows more conventional dogma; graduate students in rural sociology and agricultural economics; and those planning careers dealing with food security, community development, and agricultural policy issues.
-- J.C. Mayne, USDA Southern SARE program, University of Georgia, American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, Vol. 15

Product Description
Providing the theoretical and conceptual framework for this continually evolving field, Agroecology: The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systems, Second Edition explores environmental factors and complexities affecting agricultural crops and animals. Completely revised, updated, and reworked, the second edition contains new data, new readings, new issues and case studies, and new options. It includes two completely new chapters, one on the role of livestock animals in agroecosystems and one on the cultural and community aspects of sustainable food systems. The author clearly shows the importance of using an ecosystem framework for determining if a particular agricultural practice, input, or management decision contributes or detracts from sustainability. He explains how the framework provides the ecological basis for the functioning of the chosen management strategy over the long-term. He also looks at system level interactions, stressing the need for understanding the emergent qualities of populations, communities, and ecosystems and their roles in sustainable agriculture. Using examples of farming systems in a broad array of ecological conditions, the book demonstrates how to use an ecosystem approach to design and manage agroecosystems for sustainability.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: Agroecology (Hardcover) I highly recommend the Book Agroecology by Steve Gliessman. It reflects indepth knowledge of agricultural issues of today food production systems. Those of us interested in challenging thoughts and ideas to achieve sustainability must look at the contributions of this book. Some chapters demand basic knowledge of Ecology while other chapters demand higher level of ecology and Biology. The book provides examples from different parts of the world (tropical and temperate zones) so that it should be very useful to agronomists, and agroecologists from countries other than the US. As an agroecologist I highly recommend this book. I find it very useful to teach Agroecology and Ecology, in both agricultural schools and Biology students.