Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Agroecosystems

Mario Giampietro Instituto Nazionale

Richerche su Alimenti e Nutrizione Series: Advances in Agroecology Volume: 10

List Price: $109.95
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Cat. #: 1067 ISBN: 0849310679 Publication Date: 11/24/2003 Number of Pages: 472

Ecologists, agronomists, and others who may question the validity of current models for determining sustainable growth of agroecosystems, need a new set of analytical tools that more effectively address the complex nature of related processes. Those who challenge traditional assumptions of optimization and static factors in agricultural modeling demand new methods beyond differential equations and traditional statistical tests.

Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Agroecosystems explores alternative ways to study agricultural sustainability, presenting new approaches to organizing data and applying complex systems theory to actual cases. This innovative text recognizes the changing dynamics of the multiple processes and cross-relations within an environment, proposing a clearer analysis of agroecosystems than that which can be provided by rigid, reductionist methods. Main concepts, new vocabulary and narratives, and practical examples open the book, followed by technical chapters that provide a more detailed explanation of concepts. The final section of the book presents a tool kit based on these concepts, resulting in strong support of empirical observations that challenge traditional notions regarding the sustainability of farming systems, food systems, and agroecosystems.

• Exposes the clash of reductionist methods vs. the complexity of actual systems
• Applies complex system theory to the study of agroecosystems
• Provides new vocabulary and explanations resulting from the epistemological issues raised by complexity
• Introduces the concepts of Multi-Scale Mosaic Effect, Impredicative Loop Analysis, and Surfing Complex Time
• Details how changes in societal metabolism affect the ecological context of agriculture
• Explains benchmarking within Integrated Analysis