Chapter 22. Stephen R. Gliessman. 1990. Understanding the basis of sustainability for agriculture in the tropics: Experiences in Latin America. Pages 378-390. In: Clive A. Edwards, Rattan Lal, Patrick Madden, Robert H. Miller, Gar House (editors). Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, Iowa, 696 pages. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Ohio State University, September, 1988.

Keywords: sustainability of traditional tropical agroecosystems, we may have much to learn from their low dependence o external purchased inputs, use of locally available and renewable resources, adapted to or tolerant of local conditions, long-term maintenance of productive capacity, biological and cultural diversity, knowledge of and culture of local inhabitants, adequate domestic and exportable goods, ecology and management of traditional agroecosystems, multiple-crop agroecosystems, diverse home gardens, traditional wetland agroecosystem