Introduction to the Farming Systems Design Special Issue

Abstract

This special issue is composed of papers selected from the presentations given at FSD5, the 5th Conference of the Farming Systems Design community of practice (http://fsd5.european-agronomy.org/). The overall objective of FSD is to promote research and capacity building on methodologies for the analysis and design of Agricultural Systems on a worldwide level. The core of this interdisciplinary community is the farm system and its interactions and feedbacks at lower and higher levels of integration. The aim is to provide researchers and decision makers with the tools and methods required for understanding and implementing multi-functional farming systems expressing good trade-offs between food production and ecosystems services. The six papers selected for this FSD Special Issue of Agricultural Systems explore a wide range of methodologies and issues, which can pave the way for future research and applications for strategic thinking and innovation in agricultural systems.