ABSTRACT

The dramatic increases in food prices experienced over the last four years, and their effects of hunger and food insecurity, as well as human-induced climate change and its implications for agriculture, food production and food security, are key topics within the field of agronomy and agricultural research. Contested Agronomy addresses these issues by exploring key developments since the mid-1970s, focusing in particular on the emergence of the neoliberal project and the rise of the participation and environmental agendas, taking into consideration how these have had profound impacts on the practice of agronomic research in the developing world especially over the last four decades. This book explores, through a series of case studies, the basis for a much needed ‘political agronomy’ analysis that highlights the impacts of problem framing and narratives, historical disjunctures, epistemic communities and the increasing pressure to demonstrate ‘success’ on both agricultural research and the farmers, processors and consumers it is meant to serve.

Whilst being a fascinating and thought-provoking read for professionals in the Agriculture and Environmental sciences, it will also appeal to students and researchers in agricultural policy, development studies, geography, public administration, rural sociology, and science and technology studies.

chapter 1|21 pages

Contested Agronomy

Agricultural Research in a Changing World

chapter 2|25 pages

On Heretics and God's Blanket Salesmen

Contested Claims for Conservation Agriculture and the Politics of its Promotion in African Smallholder Farming

chapter 4|22 pages

Anthropogenic Dark Earths and Africa

A political Agronomy of Research Disjunctures

chapter 5|16 pages

Contestation as Continuity?

Biofortification Research and the CGIAR

chapter 6|14 pages

Water in African Agronomy

chapter 7|15 pages

Understanding Agricultural Intensification on a Forest Frontier in Madagascar

Elements of a Malthusian/Boserupian Synthesis

chapter 9|29 pages

‘This Field is our Church'

The Social and Agronomic Challenges of Knowledge Generation in a Participatory Soil Fertility Management Project

chapter 11|18 pages

Success-Making and Success Stories

Agronomic Research in the Spotlight 1

chapter 12|8 pages

Nullius in Verba

Contestation, Pathways and Political Agronomy