The science that underpins organic agriculture and its impact upon the management of agricultural systems has been rarely addressed. Organic Agriculture: Science and Practice starts by setting the scene of organic agriculture its philosophical roots, organic farming and the concept of a system, the socio-economic context of organic agriculture, and the key issue of food quality. The second part, the major section of the book, presents the science that underpins organic production. This section examines the management of soil ecology, resource use, different crop and livestock production systems and the environmental impact of organic farming methods. The final section considers the practical aspects of organic production, and most importantly the marketing of organic produce. Case Studies are included in relevant chapters in Part B to ensure that the application of the scientific principles are understood by students and professionals. UK-European case studies will be mirrored by US-North American case studies.
Each chapter will include a list of key reading, and there will be links from the text to the SAC s website where questions and answers on converting from conventional agriculture to organic agriculture are available.