Knowledge Society A society in which the production and
dissemination of scientific information and knowledge
function well, and in which the transmission and use of
valuable experiential knowledge is optimized; a society in
which the information of those with experiential knowl-
edge is used together with that of scientific and technical
experts to inform decision-making.
Land Cover The physical coverage of land, usually expressed
in terms of vegetation cover or lack of it. Influenced by
but non synonymous with land use.
Land Degradation The reduction in the capability of the land
to produce benefits from a particular land use under a
specific form of land management.
Landscape An area of land that contains a mosaic of eco-
systems,  including human-dominated ecosystems. The
term cultural  landscape  is  often used when referring
to landscapes with characteristic form and uses, often
traditional.
Land Tenure The relationship, whether legally or customar-
ily defined, among people, as individuals or groups, with
respect to land and associated natural resources (water,
trees, minerals, wildlife, and so on).
Rules of tenure define how property rights in land are
to be allocated within societies. Land tenure systems de-
termine who can use what resources for how long, and
under what conditions.
Land Use The human utilization of a piece of land for a certain
purpose (such as irrigated agriculture or recreation). Land
use is influenced by, but not synonymous with, land cover.
Leguminous Cultivated or spontaneous plants which fix at-
mospheric nitrogen.
Malnutrition Failure to achieve nutrient requirements, which
can impair physical and/or mental health. It may result
from consuming too little food or a shortage or imbal-
ance of key nutrients (e.g., micronutrient deficiencies or
excess consumption of refined sugar and fat).
Marginal Rates of Return Calculates the returns to the last
dollar invested on a certain activity. It is usually estimated
through econometric estimation.
Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) The use of DNA markers
to improve response to selection in a population. The
markers will be closely linked to one or more target loci,
which may often be quantitative trait loci.
Minimum Tillage The least amount possible of cultivation or
soil disturbance done to prepare a suitable seedbed. The
main purposes of minimum tillage are to reduce tillage
energy consumption, to conserve moisture, and to retain
plant cover to minimize erosion.
Model A simplified representation of reality used to simulate
a process, understand a situation, predict an outcome or
analyze a problem. A model can be viewed as a selective
approximation, which by elimination of incidental de-
tail, allows hypothesized or quantified aspects of the real
world to appear manipulated or tested.
Multifunctionality In   IAASTD,   multifunctionality   is   used
solely to express the inescapable interconnectedness of
agriculture's different roles and functions. The concept of
multifunctionality recognizes agriculture as a multi-out-
put activity producing not only commodities (food, feed,
fibers, agrofuels, medicinal products and ornamentals),
but also non-commodity outputs such as environmental

services, landscape amenities and cultural heritages (See
Global SDM Text Box)
Natural Resources Management Includes all functions and
services of nature that are directly or indirectly significant
to humankind, i.e., economic functions, as well as other
cultural and ecological functions or social services that
are not taken into account in economic models or not
entirely known.
Nanotechnology The engineering of functional systems at the
atomic or molecular scale.
Net Present Value (NPV) Net present value is used to analyze
the profitability of an investment or project, represent-
ing the difference between the discounted present value
of benefits and the discounted present value of costs. If
NPV of a prospective project is positive, then the project
should be accepted. The analysis of NPV is sensitive to
the reliability of future cash inflows that an investment
or project will yield.
No-Till Planting without tillage.  In most  systems,  planter-
mounted coulters till a narrow seedbed assisting in the
placement of fertilizer and seed. The tillage effect on
weed control is replaced by herbicide use.
Obesity A chronic physical condition characterized by too
much body fat, which results in higher risk for health
problems such as high blood pressure, high blood cho-
lesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Commonly it
is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or more
than 30, while overweight is equal to or more than 25.
The BMI is an index of weight-for-height and is defined
as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the
height in meters (kg/m2).
Organic Agriculture An ecological production management
system that promotes and enhances biological cycles and
soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-
farm inputs and on management practices that restore,
maintain and enhance ecological harmony.
Organization Organizations can be formal or informal. Ex-
amples of organizations are government agencies (e.g.,
police force, ministries, etc.), administrative bodies (e.g.,
local government), non governmental organizations, as-
sociations (e.g., farmers' associations) and private com-
panies (firms). Cf. with Institutions.
Orphan Crops Crops such as teff, finger millet, yam, roots and
tubers that tend to be regionally or locally important for
income and nutrition, but which are not traded globally
and receive minimal attention by research networks.
Participatory Development A process that involves people
(population groups, organizations, associations, political
parties) actively and significantly in all decisions affecting
their lives.
Participatory Domestication The process of domestication
that involves agriculturalists and other community mem-
bers actively and significantly in making decisions, taking
action and sharing benefits.
Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) Involvement of a range
of actors, including scientists, farmers, consumers, ex-
tension agents, vendors, processors and other industry
stakeholders—as well as farmer and community-based
organizations and non-government organization (NGOs)
in plant breeding research and development.
Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) A process by which