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Agricultural science
Agricultural science (also called agronomy) is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic, and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. (Veterinary science is often excluded from the definition.)
Agriculture and agricultural science
The two terms are often confused. However, they cover different concepts:
- Agriculture is activities that transform the environment for the production of animals and plants for human use. Agriculture concerns techniques, including the application of agronomic research.
- Agronomy is research and development related to studying and improving agriculture.
Agricultural sciences include research and development on:
- Production techniques (e.g., irrigation management, recommended nitrogen inputs)
- Improving production in terms of quantity and quality (e.g., selection of drought-resistant crops, development of new pesticides, yield-sensing technologies, simulation models of crop growth, in-vitro cell culture techniques)
- Transformation of primary products into end-consumer products (e.g., production, preservation, and packaging of dairy products)
- Prevention and correction of adverse environmental effects (e.g., soil degradation, waste management, bioremediation)
Agricultural science: a local science
Research in agronomy, more than in any other field, is strongly related to local areas. It can be considered a science of ecoregions, because it is closely linked to soil properties and climate, which are never exactly the same from one place to another. Many people think an agricultural production system relying on local weather, soil characteristics, and specific crops has to be studied locally. Others feel a need to know and understand production systems in as many areas as possible.
Agricultural sciences evolution
Agronomy today is very different from what it was before about 1950. Intensification of agriculture since the 1960s in developed and developing countries, often referred to as the Green Revolution, was closely tied to progress made in selecting and improving crops and animals for high productivity, as well as to developing additional inputs such as artificial fertilizers and phytosanitary productss.
However, environmental damage due to intensive agriculture, industrial development, and population growth have raised many questions among agronomists and have led to the development and emergence of new fields (e.g., integrated pest management, waste treatment technologies, landscape architecture, genomics).
New technologies, such as biotechnology and computer science (for data processing and storage), and technological advances have made it possible to develop new research fields, including genetic engineering, improved statistical analysis, and precision farming.
Agricultural sciences and agriculture crisis
Agriculture sciences seek to feed the world's population while preventing biosafety problems that may affect human health and the environment. This requires promoting good management of natural resources and respect for the environment.
Economic, environmental, and social aspects of agriculture sciences are subjects of ongoing debate. Recent crises (such as mad cow disease and issues such as the use of genetically modified organisms) illustrate the complexity and importance of this debate.
Fields of agricultural science
Agricultural scientists
See also Agricultural sciences basic topics
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Horticulture Research International
Principal UK organisation tasked with carrying out horticultural research and development and transferring the results to industry. Site provides details of research across horticultural sectors.
http://www.hri.ac.uk/
Crop Science Society of America
An educational and scientific organization comprised of more than 4,700 members dedicated to the advancement of crop science. Members in more than 100 countries.
http://www.crops.org/
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Site has many information resources and links on agricultural topics, as well as hunger, sustainable development, and related matters.
http://www.fao.org
Agronomic Science Foundation
Conducts scholarship and grant programs and issues awards intended to help further the role of the agronomic, crop, and soil sciences in global crop production, and to promote human welfare within a sustainable environment.
http://www.agronomy.org/asf/
American Society of Agronomy
Dedicated to the development of agriculture enabled by science, in harmony with environmental and human values.
http://www.agronomy.org/
Babcock Institute
Information in more than 100 online technical documents about the dairy industry. Multilingual site with technical dairy guides, dairy essentials, dairy publications, and slides.
http://babcock.cals.wisc.edu/
International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage
News, profile and publications of the non-profit organisation working to improve water and land management by the application of irrigation, drainage and flood management techniques, in English and French.
http://www.icid.org
Doyle Foundation
Providing advocacy and support for the role of science in international development
http://www.doylefoundation.org
International Service for National Agricultural Research
ISNAR assists developing countries in improving the performance of their national agricultural research systems and organizations.
http://www.isnar.cgiar.org/
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology
Assembles, interprets, and communicates science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally on food, fiber, agricultural, natural resource, and related societal and environmental issues. Topics include animal science, food science, agricultural technology, education, plant and soil sciences, and plant protection.
http://www.cast-science.org/
Society for Range Management
For the scientific study, protection and management of rangeland resources, mainly grazing lands managed by ecological principles.
http://www.rangelands.org/
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Information on services and resources provided as well as special events.
http://www.caes.state.ct.us/
Hyb Tech
Project set up to develop F1 breeding technology for crops. Plants being tested are rice, tomato, chicory and tobacco. Funded by a commission of six European countries. techniques.
http://www.hybtech.org/
American Agri Women (AAW)
National coalition works on areas of interest, such as governmental economic policy and environmental issues. Page lists the mission statement, affiliate organizations, meetings, committee chairpersons and executive officers.
http://americanagriwomen.org/
International Arid Lands Consortium
Information on sustainable agriculture for arid and semi arid regions. Includes maps, links, lists of projects.
http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/IALC/Home.html
Future Harvest
Details of this charitable organisation which aims to improve access to food. Site includes information on world food problems, what can be done about them and the organization's programs.
http://www.futureharvest.org/
The Triazine Network
Organisation that challenges the US restrictions on the use of these herbicides.
http://www.ksgrains.com/triazine
United States Freshwater Prawn and Shrimp Growers Association
Provides information on the raising of prawn and shrimp, and also extension and business details, and recipes.
http://www.freshwaterprawn.org
Society for Economic Botany
Fosters scientific research, education, and related activities on the past, present, and future uses of plants, and the relationship between plants and people.
http://www.econbot.org/
ESA - European Society for Agronomy
For agronomists, researchers and teachers who are concerned with basic and applied science in agronomy: the relationships between crops, soils, climates and agricultural practices, and between agriculture and the environment.
http://www.esagr.org/structure/
Soil & Crop Science Society of Florida
Contains operations, meeting, and contact information.
http://www.imok.ufl.edu/soils/scssf/index.htm
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
Features history, summits, programs, courses, and news. In Spanish and English.
http://www.iica.int/
SFIAR: Agricultural Research for Development in Switzerland
Provides up-to-date information on agricultural research for development, mainly focused on Switzerland, and offers facilities to present information on the internet.
http://www.sfiar.ch/
Institute of Arable Crops Research
Gives research results, information for growers, calendar of events and training and education offered.
http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/iacr/tiacrhome.html
Kootenay Permaculture Institute
Information about the permaculture research and education undertaken by the institute based in British Columbia, Canada.
http://www3.telus.net/permaculture
Landis International-Agricultural research and management company.
Research and development management company specializing in registration and re-registration of agricultural compounds. We provide a turnkey solution from discovery to EPA registration.
http://www.landisintl.com
Soil Science Society of America
Advancing the discipline and practice of soil science by acquiring and disseminating information about soils in relation to crop production, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management and recycling, and wise land use.
http://www.soils.org/
American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Professional and technical organization of members worldwide interested in engineering knowledge and technology for food and agriculture and associated industries.
http://ASAE.org/
CAB International
Collects and shares knowledge about organic pesticides, biodiversity and genetics. Publisher of books and journals.
http://www.cabi.org/
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
An informal association of 45 public and private sector donors that supports a network of 16 international agricultural research centers.
http://www.worldbank.org/html/cgiar/report1.html
The Florida Caribbean Chapter of the American Bamboo Society
Non-profit organization dedicated to gaining knowledge and educating the public on bamboos, with emphasis on research and preservation and propagation of endangered species.
http://www.tropicalbamboo.org
Alpha Zeta Fraternity
A professional fraternity of men and women whose educational objectives and/or careers fall within the broadly defined field of agriculture. United States.
http://www.alphazeta.org/
Independent agricultural research
Agrisearch is Europe's leading independent agricultural research organisation, conducting regulatory trials for many of the world's major agricultural input businesses.
http://www.agrisearch.co.uk/
Australian Lavender Industry
Conference dates, newsletter, FAQ, and a wide range of details about the plant as it relates to Australia.
http://www.lavenderaustralia.com/
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
sustainable maize and wheat systems for the poor
http://www.cimmyt.cgiar.org/
Academic Departments
Searches research and teaching information for horticulture and crop science departments across the United States.
http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/SearchHCS.html
International Olive Oil Council (IOOC)
Contains the group's aims, activities, International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, olive oil and table olive statistics, publications, and current and future events.
http://www.internationaloliveoil.org/
Infoagrar - Information on International Agriculture
InfoAgrar is the agricultural information and documentation service of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
http://www.infoagrar.ch/
Swiss Center for International Agriculture
Promotes and supports projects in international agricultural research, especially for the sustainable use of natural resources in agriculture and forestry in non-OECD countries.
http://www.zil.ethz.ch
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
Knowledge dissemination for rural areas and industries on bamboo and rattan conservation and use.
http://www.inbar.int/
Dr. Prem Nath Agricultural Science Foundation
A charitable trust established to assist Indian agricultural scientists to address agricultural problems for the benefit of developing countries.
http://www.pnasf.org/
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Provides information on research, market development, agronomy, and nutrition.
http://www.saskpulse.com/
International Federation of Nematology Societies
Information is given on nematodes, nematologists and nematology; IFNS, its 14 nematological member societies, and the International Congress of Nematology.
http://www.ifns.org/
Center for the Application of Molecular Biology to International Agriculture
CAMBIA, a non profit biotech research organisation, giving a company profile, details of research undertaken, a bibliography and contact details.
http://www.cambia.org/
Citrus Research International
Description of the research projects, the facilities and services offered and contact details.
http://www.citrusres.com
Shanti Progress
Mission statement of the non-profit society created to promote alternative and environmentally safe technologies, and the practice of natural farming, photographs and links to other sites. India.
http://www.shantiprogress.org/
Research Institute of Animal Nutrition, Ltd.
Pohorelice, Czech Republic. Cattle nutrition, pig nutrition, animal nutrition physiology and feed biotechnologies research. Research is the company's main activity.
http://www.vuvz.cz/
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