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Organic, Sustainable, and Alternative Farming Systems

This is a general guide to finding information on agricultural and gardening systems that are considered organic, sustainable, or alternative, such as "green", no-till and agroecology.

Table of Contents:


Find Articles: Indexes and Databases

To find an article you need to use an index/database. Use the following to help you locate resources on your topic.
  • 1st Choice Databases

    • CAB Abstracts (ISI)

      CAB covers the subject of agriculture in the broadest sense. It includes: agronomy, biotechnology, crop protection, dairy science, economics, environmental degradation and remediation, forestry, genetics, herbicides, irrigation, leisure, recreation and tourism, microbiology, nutrition, parasitology, rural development, veterinary medicine and much more. Journals, monographs, conferences, books, annual reports and other sources from more than one country are scanned regularly for inclusion in the database.
    • AGRICOLA

      Covers every major agricultural subject, including agricultural engineering and marketing, animal breeding, entomology, environmental pollution, farm management, foods and feeds, pesticides, rural sociology, veterinary medicine, and water resources. Citations consist of journal articles, book chapters, monographs, conference proceedings, serials, technical reports, and other materials on a range of agricultural topics.
    • Environment Complete

      According to EBSCO, Environment Complete™ offers deep coverage in applicable areas of agriculture, ecosystem ecology, energy, renewable energy sources, natural resources, marine & freshwater science, geography, pollution & waste management, environmental technology, environmental law, public policy, social impacts, urban planning, and more. Environment Complete contains more than 1,957,000 records from more than 1,700 domestic and international titles going back to the 1940s (including 1,125 active core titles) as well as more than 120 monographs. The database also contains full text for more than 680 journals, including many of the most used journals in the discipline, such as Environment (back to 1975), Ecologist, Conservation Biology, etc. Additionally, Environment Complete provides full text for 120 monographs, such as Encyclopedia of World Environmental History (3 volumes), Advances in Water Treatment & Environmental Management, etc.
    • GreenFILE

      GreenFILE offers well-researched but accessible information covering all aspects of human impact on the environment. Its collection of scholarly, government and general-interest titles include content on the environmental effects of individuals, corporations and local/national governments, and what can be done on each level to minimize negative impact. Topics covered include global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more. GreenFILE is multidisciplinary by nature and draws on the connections between the environment and a variety of disciplines such as agriculture, education, law, health and technology. The database provides indexing and abstracts for approximately 295,000 records, as well as Open Access full text for more than 4,600 records. (1973 - present)
    • Biological Abstracts

      Indexes the biological and medical peer-reviewed journal literature.
  • 2nd Choice Databases

    • Biological & Agricultural Index

      Provides information from groundwater pollution to genetic engineering and covers the entire range of sciences related to biology and agriculture. Indexes 226 key periodicals in the life sciences and agriculture. Includes current book reviews.
Find Books

Link to the New Books - Agriculture blog

Books are excellent resources, providing depth and extensive coverage on a huge array of topics. To find books at MSU you use our online catalog.
The online catalog lists all of the materials owned by MSU, both print and electronic, including books, journals, cd's, government documents, videos, and dissertations. Search by author, title, or keyword.

Books are shelved by Library of Congress call number. Here is a breakdown of Library of Congress call numbers for many organic/sustainable agriculture-related subjects:

S

605.5 Organic farming. Organiculture
654-661.2 Organic fertilizers - Including organic wastes as fertilizers
661.5 Mulching
661.7 Soil conditioners

SB

324.3 Organic gardening - Vegetables
357.24 Organiculture - Fruit
453.5-.6 Organic gardening
610-615 Organic control of specific weeds, parasitic plants, etc.
974-978 Organic plant protection


Websites of Interest

Notable Print Resources - Reference Works

Reference books provide a brief overview of a subject and are a good place to start your research. They are shelved in the Reference Collection at the Main Library, first floor, East wing. They cannot be checked out (because too many people need them on a regular basis). Notable Resources - Electronic and Circulating

These are works that can be checked out from the library or are fully available online.
  • Current Evaluation Procedures for Plant Protection Products Used in Organic Agriculture

    Proceedings of a workshop held September 25 - 26, 2003 in Frick, Switzerland. by Speiser, Bernhard and Otto Schmid (editors). FiBL, FiBL-Report, 1. Auflage, 2004, ISBN 978-3-906081-55-7. 107 Pages, in pdf format.
    The articles in this volume describe the evaluation procedures for plant protection products used in organic agriculture. They summarize the situation in various (mainly European) countries and the evaluation procedures and criteria for international institutions.
  • Development of a European Information System for Organic Markets - Improving the Scope and Quality of Statistical Data

    Proceedings of the 1st EISfOM European Seminar held in Berlin, Germany, 26-27 April, 2004. by Guido Recke, Helga Willer, Nicolas Lampkin and Alison Vaughan (Editors). FiBL, FiBL-Report, 1. Auflage, 2004, ISBN 978-3-906081-53-3258. Pages, pdf format.
    The proceedings of the first EISFOM* seminar held in Berlin in April 2004 include more than 50 papers, covering aspects of organic farming related to farm structures and production; to farm incomes and prices; to the supply chain and trade; to retailers and consumers: to supply balances and policy evaluation. The papers were written by representatives of the European Commission, Eurostat, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), of statistical offices and competent authorities, as well as researchers and stakeholders of the Organic Sector. * Project European Information Systems for Organic Markets.
  • Organic Fruit and Vegetables from the Tropics: Market, Certification and Production Information for Producers and International Trading Companies

    UNCTAD, 2003, Bestellnr. 230 pages, in pdf format [Alt title: Marketing Organic Tropical Produce]
    The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published a compendium on “Marketing Organic Tropical Produce” with major substantive input from FiBL on a broad range of themes. The book covers the production, certification and conditions for market access of organically produced fruit and vegetables in the tropics.
  • Organic Action Plans. Development, implementation and evaluation

    by von Otto Schmid, Christopher Stopes, Nicolas Lampkin, Victor Gonzálvez. FiBL, 1st Edition, 2008, 105 Seiten, Bestellnr. ISBN 978-03736-022-4. 114 pages, in pdf format
    In 2004, the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming was launched. Many European countries have also developed national Organic Action Plans to promote and support organic agriculture. As part of the EU funded ORGAP project (European Action Plan of Organic Food and Farming - Development of criteria and procedures for the evaluation of the EU Action Plan for Organic Agriculture) a toolbox to evaluate and monitor the implementation of national and European Action Plans was developed. In order to communicate the results of this project as widely as possible, a practical manual for initiating and evaluating Organic Action Plans has been produced. The manual was created to inspire the people, organisations and institutions involved, or with an interest in the organic food and farming sector to engage in the initiation, review, revision and renewal of regional, national and European Organic Action Plans.
  • Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources - a series of seven guides

    About this Series - This series is comprised of seven Guides. Each guide is a subject-oriented compilation that focuses on a separate type of information or research source. Sources cited in each guide were selected based on their applicability to U.S. organic production and enterprises; ready availability, especially those that are free and online; and timeliness - most sources were created or updated within the past five years.
    Guide to U.S. Organic Marketing: Laws and Regulations - U.S. Federal laws and regulations; state laws and regulations pertinent to marketing organic products; other organic-related certification programs; selected background documents about U.S. standards; general Federal food-related labeling and regulatory programs and information; general state food-related labeling and regulatory programs and information; related food safety resources
    Guide to International Trade in Organics: Laws and Regulations - Exporting and importing organic products - U.S. regulations and information sources; selected international organic-specific law and policy sites; general U.S. export and import regulations, certifications and information; selected international general food law and policy sites
    Guide to Organic Marketing and Trade How-to Publications - Organic-specific marketing publications; related alternative farm marketing publications; publications about international trade; selected business guides and enterprise budgets
    Guide to Organic Marketing and Trade Research Tools Online - Internet portals, cyberguides and news services; business directories and commodity trading sites; organic price indexes; literature guides: catalogs, bibliographies and bibliographic databases
    Guide to Organic Marketing and Trade Periodicals, Calendars and Trade Shows - Trade and marketing magazines and e-zines; market research journals; selected events calendars and organic food trade shows
    Guide to Organic Market, Industry and Consumer Studies (2004-2008) - Bibliography of publications with links to abstracts or full text
    Guide to Organic Marketing Support Organizations - Selected national support groups and resources; where and how to find additional support
    Series Combined Title and Author Indexes: Guides 1-7
  • Organically Produced Foods: Nutritive Content / A Bibliography

    From the Introduction:
    This bibliography focuses specifically on the nutritive value of organically produced foods: vitamin and mineral content, as well as related chemical constituents. With the exception of a handful of references to publications that deal with the general relationship of soil qualities and crop composition, each document cited contains at least some information about nutrients found in food as related to organic production. Most items deal with research results; several are overviews of literature or research, or are opinion pieces. Many compare organic foods with those conventionally produced.
  • Supermarket Study 2002. Organic Products in European Supermarkets

    by von Toralf Richter, Gabriele Hempfling. FiBL, FiBL-Studie, 2003, 180 Seiten, Bestellnr. ISBN 978-3-906081-37-3.
    The study describes the current situation of the organic markets in 11 European countries and the main development paths of retail chains with regard to organic products. Particulary it should focus the role of the retail chains within the national organic markets. National case studies on the main retailing sellers of organic products point out the currently used marketing approaches and measures to sell organic products as well as the structure of marketing organisation for organic product line within the companies.
Notable Resources - MSU and Michigan

This is a list of sources of forestry information particular to MSU and the State of Michigan.
  • Advancing Organic Agriculture - Michigan Dept. of Agriculture

    In September 1998, Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Dan Wyant created the Michigan Organic Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee was charged with developing a strategic plan; serving as a framework for advancing a system of production, processing and marketing products of organic agriculture in Michigan. This plan includes background information, a position statement, two key recommendations and related action items. It was designed to introduce several concepts, ideas, and recommendations to MDA and the organic industry and initiate dialogue with MDA and the organic industry about these concepts and ideas.
  • MSU Organic Farming Exchange

    This site offers: Resources and events to promote organic food production, information to help farmers transition to organic, tips on the process of organic certification, and farming practices that are practical for Michigan organic farmers.
  • Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA)

    The Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) was organized in 1992 as a non-profit organization. We work to create more public awareness about the nature of industrialized food supply and its environmental and social hazards. We teach 'eaters' to value and to choose organically grown food produced in their own locales. MOFFA is a force for generating public awareness about the need for more decentralized food systems that allow for greater participation and choice on the part of all citizens.
  • New Agriculture Network

    Three universities --Michigan State University, Purdue University, and the University of Illinois -- have joined resources to bring seasonal advice to field crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture. New information is posted twice a month during the growing season and less frequently during winter. Our on-line newsletter features crop updates from organic growers and articles from university specialists about a variety of practices and new findings useful for organic growers. The information serves those interested in transitioning to organic as well as those currently practicing low-input or organic agriculture. We are continually writing grant proposals to support expanded resources.
Additional Research Guides on plant topics

Here is a list of other Research Guides on plant and related topics:


Ask the Librarian

Suzanne Teghtmeyer
Agriculture, Forestry and Botany Librarian
teghtmey@msu.edu
Phone: 517-432-6123 x 325
Library Web page: http://www.lib.msu.edu/teghtmey/

Page Coordinator: Suzanne Teghtmeyer teghtmey@mail.lib.msu.edu
This URL: http://guides.lib.msu.edu/page.phtml?page_id=1830
Last updated: 10-07-2008

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