What can agriculture learn from natural ecosystems?

In the preceding papers, the authors evaluate the usefulness of the proposition that mimicking characteristics of natural ecosystems, particularly patterns of resource capture and distribution, can lead to improved sustainability of agricultural systems. They approach this question from a diverse array of disciplines over a broad range of geographical settings and ecosystems and produce an equally broad range of views and conclusions. The aim of this paper is to draw out the major themes that have emerged concerning the usefulness of the mimic concept in generating radical solutions to the problem of agriculture. First, a brief summary of their scope and conclusions.