ABSTRACT
Alternative, agroecological or low-input agricultural production systems emphasize reliance on the resources present within the farm (Altieri, 1995; Pretty, 1995). Conversely, ‘conventional’ approaches to agricultural development are characterized as depending more heavily on external inputs. Our task in this collaborative effort has been to assess the extent to which so-called alternative agriculture can contribute to increased world food production in the future. This issue is significant for those making decisions on how to invest in agricultural research, and for those involved in assisting farmers to apply that research on the land.
