Compiled by:
Rebecca Thompson
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center

March 2007

This resource is part of our Organic Production/Organic Food: Information Access Tools tutorial which identifies the best sources that address sustainable agriculture, research and information sources, contacts and experts, research funding sources, educational and career opportunities, and upcoming events.

AFSIC acknowledges John Gladstone for programming the database and Web site searches.

Search Databases or the Internet

Conduct automated, real-time, searches to locate current resources on organic food production. Select a search option below to access the designated Web site or database. A search of selected organic agriculture terms will locate and display Web sites, books, articles, information resources, subject experts, educational opportunities and more. Search strategies differ across online sources. Database descriptions are included below. Contact AFSIC about specific search strategies employed.

NAL AGRICOLA Database

Search for books on organic crop production

Search for articles on organic crop production

Search for books on organic livestock production

Search for articles on organic livestock production

Search for books on organic certification

Search for articles on organic certification

Search for books on organic handling/processing

Search for articles on organic handling/processing

Search for books on organic marketing

Search for articles on organic marketing

Search for books on organic gardening

Search for articles on organic gardening

Search for books on organic foods

Search for articles on organic foods

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World Wide Web

The Current Research Information System (CRIS)

CRIS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's documentation and reporting system for ongoing and recently completed research projects in agriculture, food and nutrition, and forestry.

To conduct a keyword search in the TITLE or DESCRIPTOR fields, follow these steps:

1. Copy the following search strategy example:

   TI,DE=organic ADJ farming OR TI,DE=organic ADJ agriculture

2. Access the CRIS database.
   (Note: Following this link will open a new browser window.)
3. Select Professional Search.
4. Select the Edit button beside Search Number S1.
5. Paste the search strategy copied in Step 1 into the search box.
6. Select the OK button.
7. Select the Display button to view the results.
8. Optional: Select the Change Format button to choose a different display format or to customize your format using selected data fields.

Database Descriptions

AGRICOLA Database

AGRICOLA (AGRICultural Online Access), the National Agricultural Library (NAL) Catalog, is a bibliographic database of citations to the agricultural literature created by NAL and its cooperators. The records describe publications and resources encompassing all aspects of agriculture and allied disciplines. [Learn about AGRICOLA.]
http://agricola.nal.usda.gov/

ARS Web Site

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is USDA's main in-house research agency. ARS research develops solutions to a wide range of problems related to food and agriculture. Locate resources by specific ARS location using the ARS Advanced Search feature.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/search/advanced.htm

TEKTRAN

TEKTRAN summaries on the Internet are "snapshots in time" -- published or soon-to-be-published articles -- of recent research results from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the USDA's chief scientific research agency.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/services/TekTran.htm

USDA Web Portal

USA.gov

The United States government's official Web portal provides access to U.S. government information, services and resources.
http://www.usa.gov/

The tips below will help you create your own search strategies for conducting literature searches.

• Organic Food Production: Where are the best organic production research and information sources? [search tips]
  
  
• The NAL Agricultural Thesaurus is an online vocabulary look-up tool for agricultural and biological terms. The Thesaurus is organized to help find terms in a specific discipline or subject area. Automated searches are featured.
  
  
  • Organic Foods
  • Organic Production
  • Organic Certification
    
    

• The Language of Electronic Searching: A Search Terms Glossary (December 2001)
• Finding Information on the Internet Tutorial, University of California, Berkeley