Agronomy

Agronomy is a branch of agricultural science concerning the study of soil types, crop types, and the maximization of agricultural production. Agronomists have become increasingly concerned with the issue of sustainable production. Consequently, topics studied include the relative balance of agricultural inputs and outputs, use of irrigation and fertilizer methods, selective breeding of agricultural plants and animals, and the understanding of specific local conditions and empowering local people to maintain healthy agricultural systems.

Generations of farmers have improved their production in a series of small steps; examples include soybeans, rice, and grapes. Further, farmers have developed their use of local knowledge to improve agricultural production. Such systems can prove fragile when faced with internationally sponsored, scientifically based production improvements that fail to take account of this local knowledge. The promotion of inland black tiger prawn raising in Thailand, for example, led to short-term income increases for many subsistence farmers who participated in the scheme. However, the negative impacts became clear as the lack of water inflows contributed to the buildup of pollutants, which led to the degredation of the surrounding land. Greater participation by local people might have revealed the knowledge that would have prevented this problem. Many multilateral donors, notably the World Bank, have made efforts to increase that participation.

Improvements in scientific knowledge and methodology have enabled agronomists to become increasingly effective in understanding global production methods. However, conditions are constantly changing as pollution and environmental degradation negatively affect many agricultural production systems. Consequently, much agronomy is devoted to maintaining existing production levels.

Major international agronomy organizations include the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which was founded in 1945 as a specialized agency of the United Nations, and which provides technical expertise and capacity-building to countries around the world. Many universities offer agricultural departments that include agronomic interests. Private-sector organizations have also [Page 21]spiked their interest in agronomy, as profitable opportunities have become increasingly evident. The use of genetically modified organisms, for example, has offered considerable opportunity, and some corporations have rushed to capture those incomes. These ventures have often relied upon strict rationing of intellectual property rights, which has caused local people who fear they have lost control over their agricultural inputs. Consumer-led oppositions have also become influential and in many countries in western Europe, and the involvement of privatesector corporations in agricultural production has led to significant consumer boycotts.