Welcome to the IFSA European Group!
Welcome to the website of the International Farming Systems Association - Europe Group. This website is primarily a repository of the proceedings of various European IFSA symposia, ensuring that the full-text of the presented papers are widely accessible. You can search the website using the search field (top right of your screen). The website also offers a list of Books & Papers which are key sources of further information on Farming Systems Research.
This website is dedicated to Farming Systems Research in a western context (focusing on Europe). If you are interested in FSR as applied in the Global South, we recommend the Digital Collection by the University of Florida, where you can search and download a large number of papers and publications.
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Symposia by IFSA and related Associations
The next European IFSA Symposium will take place 1-4 April 2014 at the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. The overall theme is "Farming Systems facing global challenges - capacities and strategies". Go the the Website for the IFSA 2014 for the detailed information and to submit your workshop (by 15 May 2013) or abstract!
The 2012 European IFSA Symposium took place at Aarhus University in Denmark, from 1 to 4 July. The theme was: "Producing and reproducing farming systems: New modes of organisation for the sustainable food systems of tomorrow".
Website for the IFSA 2012, with all the detailed information!
The Southern and Eastern African Association for Farming Systems Research-Extension (SEAAFSRE) held its 11th regional conference on 19-21 Nov. 2012 in Pretoria, South Africa. Its theme was: ‘Innovation System Perspective in Agriculture and Rural Development for smallholder farmers'
The 4th International Symposium for Farming Systems Design will be held 19-22 August 2013 in Lanzhou, China. Its theme is: Sustainable intensification of agriculture: Systems research helping to meet the needs and managing the trade-offs in a challenging world.
The 21st European Seminar on Extension Education (ESEE) will be held 2-6 September 2013 in Antalya (Turkey)
2014: International Year of Family Farming
In december 2011, the UN General Assembly declared 2014 to be the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF).
Among its initiatives for the International Year, FAO is planning to publish a major study on family farming and agricultural innovation systems (AIS) in 2014 as part of its State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) series.
For further information, see the FAO Website on Agricultural Innovation in Family Farming
Conceptual document in favour of Family Farming