ABSTRACT
LEIA farming seeks to optimize the use of locally available resources by combining different farm activities so that they complement each other and give the greatest possible synergistic effects. External inputs are only used to provide elements that are deficient within the ecosystem. Major emphasis is placed on reducing dependency on pesticides and substituting chemical fertilizers for (green) manure. Production systems with high use of (external) inputs (HEIA) are focused on capital intensification through improvement of land and labour productivity. Reliance on external inputs is mostly associated with commercially oriented agricultural production, generally
with higher levels of specialization. Sustainable resource use is, in principle, possible under both systems, but tends to be accompanied by lower output levels under the LEIA option.2
