Let farmers judge

The need for sustainable agriculture is nowadays widely acknowledged but the definition of sustainability remains controversial. Detailed comparative analyses of the sustainability of different systems and practices are few, and the methodology for conducting such analyses remains to be developed and standardized. It was in response to this situation that the Information Centre for Low-External-lnput and Sustainable Agriculture (ILEIA) organized a workshop on Assessing the Effectiveness of Low External-lnput Farming. The main theme of the wor~shop was how to assess techniques for managing soil fertility, a problem central to the pursuit of sustainable a~riculture. Twenty-eight people from differing backgrounds and countries were invited to share their experiences. Let farmers judge is a follow-up to the workshop. It is a collection of papers on the theme of assessing sustainability in agriculture. Divided into four parts the introductory theme paper (Part 1) is followed in Part II by papers discussing the conceptual framework for assessment. Part III examines specific methodological issues, with the emphasis on farmers' assessment criteria. Part IV contains case studies comparing the performance of ecologically sound farming practices and systems with that of high input conventional farming. Let farmers judge: experiences in assessing the sustainability of agriculture edited by Wim Hiemstra, Coen Reijntjes and Erik van der Werf 1992 208pp ISBN 1 85339 1492 Pbk Price UKL12.95 IT Publications 103-105 Southampton Row London WC1B 4HH, UKLet farmers judge: experiences in assessing the sustainability of agriculture edited by Wim Hiemstra, Coen Reijntjes and Erik van der Werf 1992 208pp ISBN 1 85339 1492 Pbk Price UKL12.95 IT Publications 103-105 Southampton Row London WC1B 4HH,