ABSTRACT
Sustainable agriculture seeks a balance of environmental conservation, agricultural production, farm profit, and community well-being. The balancing act required by sustainable agriculture is made more difficult because it requires more than the usual single, summary measures of success. Research to build a more sustainable agriculture also requires high farmer participation because the farm family embodies the complexity of multiple goals on the micro level. Farming systems research and extension (FSR/E) has traditionally involved multidisciplinary teams, which have included farmer participation. Transdisciplinary teams oriented toward sustainable agriculture would evaluate production practices in terms of the current economic and policy environment, understanding that these may vary in the future. FSR/E presents a systematic methodology for changing farming systems, including changing the actions of farmers, researchers, and extension personnel. The team might recommend application of nitrogen fertilizer if the farmer has a relatively high cash income, the application of animal manure if the farmer runs a mixed crop and livestock operation.
