Agricultural .Sysfems, Vol. 55. No. 2. pp. 257-272. (1997) i’ 1997 Published bv Elsevier Science Ltd Ai rights reserved. P&d in Great Britain PII: SO308-521X(97)00010-3 030&521X/97 S17.00+0.00 FLSEVIER Systems Methodologies for Sustainable Natural Resources Research and Development R. L. Ison, P. T. Maiteny & S. Carr Systems Department, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes. UK, MK7 6AA, (Received 30 April 1996; accepted 1.5 October 1996) ABSTRACT Systems methodologies are helping to reshape the way in which natural resource Research and Development (R&D) is conducted but they are under-utilised and under-researched. This paper outlines some recent trends in systems thinking, and argues the case for the use and further develop- ment of systems methodologies for research and development in sustainable natural resource management (NRA4 R&D). Systems, or complexity, reseurch reveals the inadequacy of development proj’ects which are based on blueprints and certainty derivedfrom linear projections into the future. Two strands of NRA4 R&D are explored: farming systems research (FSR) and sy,stems learning. Both have been extendedfrom farming to rural livelihood andfood systems. This improves their holistic claims but increases demands on them. FSR acknowledges that both natural and socio-economic science ure necessary to NRM but has had limited success in synthesising them. The systems learning strand is increasingly apparent but is still under- researched despite successes. Research to further adapt and develop systems methodologies in NRM contexts is identtjied. 0 1997 Published by Else- vier Science Ltd INTRODUCTION This review encourages the use and further development of a broader range of systems methodologies (and systems thinking in general), than is com- monly used in sustainable natural resource management. One motivation for the paper was the experience of one of the authors in reviewing projects being proposed under the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) in 1994-l 995. 2.57