PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH IN TEMPERATE COUNTRIES

Agricultural systems research experience has stimulated greater involv ement in interdisciplinary and multi-agency teams to solve complex pro duction problems. Classical component research and small teams of scie ntists with narrow goals are evolving into well-funded and mission-ori ented teams that can efficiently work with more complex problems. Curr ent research within a single discipline often includes measurement of energy, environmental, or human impact as a part of its evaluation. Te am research on systems provides a framework for the integration of com ponents in either a space or a time continuum. The boundaries among bi ological, physical, and social sciences are blurring as we attempt to solve complex challenges. There is also a growing appreciation of the connections between systems and that our research into systems can hav e far-ranging impacts on success in agricultural enterprises as well a s the quality of rural fife. The purpose of this review is to provide a ''snapshot'' overview of current research conducted by individuals a nd teams in agronomy that address questions from a systems perspective . The objective is to provide specific examples of research approaches and results that illustrate the practical value of systems research. Review of four journals in 1992 reveals a growing appreciation of how interdisciplinary work can help explain the complexities of component interactions in cropping systems, as well as a relative absence of eco nomic and social evaluation of the impacts of technology.