| |
Natural Ecosystems |
Sustainable Agroecosystems |
Conventional Agroecosystems |
| Production (yield) |
low |
low/medium |
high |
| Productivity (process) |
medium |
medium/high |
low/medium |
| Diversity |
high |
medium |
low |
| Resilience |
high |
medium |
low |
| Output Stability |
medium |
low/medium |
high |
| Flexibility |
high |
medium |
low |
| Human Displacement of Ecological Processes |
low |
medium |
high |
| Reliance on External Human Inputs |
low |
medium |
high |
| Autonomy |
high |
high |
low |
| Sustainability |
high |
high |
low |
*Properties given for these systems are most applicable to the farm scale and for the short- to medium-term time frame.
From: Gliessman, S.R. 1997. Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture
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