The farming systems approach

This chapter looks at what learning has occurred about the concepts that underpin Farming Systems Research (FSR) and related Farming Systems Approaches today. It traces the particular contribution made to Farming Systems Approaches by the agricultural group at the University of Western Sydney, under the energetic leadership of Richard Bawden. This group examined the idea of what a Farming System was, and the associated need for a paradigm shift in how agriculture and rural issues are seen and researched. The paper goes on to look at what makes up the conceptual basis of a Systems approach, and how this can be implemented in a constructivist, multi-perspective way through a process called Systemic Development. It then examines the concepts of Learning, values and participation before finally introducing the concept of globalisation and its influence on farming systems.