ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with two key concepts: complex systems and gender. It explores the significance of gender to and in agricultural systems research for and in development and includes a broader insight regarding the relevance of transformability to systems research. The chapter discusses a response to the overarching conference question of what is the value of systems research and a response to the key question, namely what is the significance of gender in systems research. It considers relevance and accuracy; knowledge base and engagement; and targeting of research. These focus on the instrumental values of gender, which complement the ethical or social justice aspect. The chapter deals with the notion of leverage points in complex systems. It focuses on the concept of leverage points to signal the particular significance of gender in systems research and the value-added of systems research to development.
