(Frick, 17.07.2020) The book entitled "Long-Term Farming Systems Research: Ensuring Food Security in Changing Scenarios" presents the legacy and heritage of long-term experiments in agriculture while also addressing the challenges and potential solutions.
There are several long-term experiments set up with specific objectives in different agro-ecological zones of the world. FiBL also leads several long-term experiments, most notably the DOK trial in Switzerland and the SysCom trials in the tropics. All the long-term experiments are yielding a wealth of information every day. However, they face unique challenges ranging from complex statistical analysis, maintenance of contextual credibility as well as financial and institutional uncertainties. It is valuable to collect the evidence and experiences from these trials in order to draw conclusions for global agricultural systems as well as to learn lessons for future long-term experiments.
Contextual variety and geographic diversity
In this regard, this book offers a thorough resource of information based on experiences from various ongoing long-term experiments in different parts of the world. The book was edited by FiBL scientists Gurbir Bhullar and Amritbir Riar; 44 experts from across the globe have contributed chapters based on long-term experiments led by their respective institutions. The contextual variety and geographic diversity presented in this book make it useful for agricultural and environmental scientists as well as students and educators.
In the book it is discussed how long-term experiments form an important asset in understanding the significant influence of agriculture on life on earth. As global governments and development agencies strive to achieve the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, this book providing insights into the interactions of agricultural production with ecological, economic and societal aspects is of unprecedented importance.
Key features
The book "Long-Term Farming Systems Research: Ensuring Food Security in Changing Scenarios":
- provides comprehensive information generated in various long-term experiments across the globe, with a focus on various aspects of farming systems, crop management practices, plant, soil and human nutrition as well as on capacity development;
- presents a holistic view on interactions of agricultural production and its relationship to the environment and society;
- identifies challenges and lessons learned from different long-term experiments and provides recommendations for potential solutions.
From the editors
"Thanks to the excellent panel of our contributing authors, we can offer the widest possible thematic and geographical coverage on long-term experiments in this book.
Experts from different institutions have provided their perspectives on different aspects of long-term experiments, highlighting the unique knowledge contribution of these experiments and discussing the unique challenges of effectively managing them and maintaining their relevance to changing scenarios.
We hope that this book will offer something for everyone interested in the history, present and future of our agroecosystem."
Further information
FiBL contacts
- Dr. Gurbir Bhullar, FiBL Switzerland
- Dr. Helga Willer, Communication, FiBL Switzerland
Links
- Gurbir Bhullar, Amritbir Riar, 2020: Long-Term Farming Systems Research, Ensuring Food Security in Changing Scenarios, 1st Edition; Academic Press
- DOK trial
- SysCom trials
Downlaods
Media release (283.5 KB)
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