Low Input Sustainable Agriculture

U.S. Congress Established LISA (Low Input Sustainable Agriculture) Program (later became the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program)... 

Climate change, soil degradation and an increase of health problems impede a sustainable development of livelihoods in rural areas in (sub) tropical regions all over the world. Prevalent traditional farming systems have been replaced and modified by the Green Revolution, LEISA (low external input sustainable agriculture) and agroforestry systems. 

Steinmaier, N. and A. Ngoliya (2001) Potential of pasture legumes in low-external-input sustainable agriculture (LEISA). 1. Results from green manure research in Luapula province, Zambia.- Experimental Agriculture 37, 297-307. 

Leifert, C, Rembialkowska, E, Nielson J H, Cooper, J M, Butler, G and Lueck L (2007) Effects of organic and low input production methods on food quality and safety. In Niggli, U, Leifert, C, Alfoldi, T L, Lueck and Wilier, H, Improving Sustainability in Organic and Low Input Food Production Systems. Published by the Research Institute of organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick, Switzerland. Available as a web-publication on http //www.fibl.org/shop/pdf/hp-1455-organic-food-production.pdf... 

ILEIA (-) LEISA, Magazine on Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture.-Farmer Field Schools. 

Camelina has been evaluated in Canada, North Dakota, and Minnesota for its agronomical performance (63, 70, 50). Recent interest in the species is mainly because of the demand for alternative low-input oilseed crops with the potential for food and nonfood utilization of the seed oil (60,71). Unique agronomic features such as compatibility with reduced tillage and cover crop and competitiveness with weeds or winter surface seeding showed suitability of camelina for sustainable agriculture systems. Furthermore, the species has a potential as a low-cost crop for green manuring (60). 

University of California-Davis Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems Project 1988 Compare conventional, low-input and organic systems evaluate conservation tillage in these systems (tomato, safflower, bean, com)... 

Ohio State University John Hirzel Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Site 2001 Compare conventional, no-tUl, and high-and low-input organic systems (soybeans, com, wheat, and vegetables)... 

It should be ob nous that more sustainable does not mean low-external input. Low-input agricultural systems are in many ways much less sustainable than higher external input systems because they do not meet current farmer and societal needs, degrade soils through erosion and nutrient depletion, and have additional adverse impacts, such as requiring more land to be cultivated. There are numerous examples of how low-input systems have become much more sustainable by use of greater external inputs. 

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