PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH IN TEMPERATE COUNTRIES

Agricultural systems research experience has stimulated greater involvement in interdisciplinary and multi-agency teams to solve complex production problems. Classical component research and small teams of scientists with narrow goals are evolving into well-funded and mission-oriented teams that can efficiently work with more complex problems. Current research within a single discipline often includes measurement of energy, environmental, or human impact as a part of its evaluation. Team research on systems provides a framework for the integration of components in either a space or a time continuum. The boundaries among biological, physical, and social sciences are blurring as we attempt to solve complex challenges. There is also a growing appreciation of the connections between systems and that our research into systems can have far-ranging impacts on success in agricultural enterprises as well as the quality of rural fife. The purpose of this review is to provide a ''snapshot'' overview of current research conducted by individuals and teams in agronomy that address questions from a systems perspective. The objective is to provide specific examples of research approaches and results that illustrate the practical value of systems research. Review of four journals in 1992 reveals a growing appreciation of how interdisciplinary work can help explain the complexities of component interactions in cropping systems, as well as a relative absence of economic and social evaluation of the impacts of technology.