This paper presents findings of an explorative case study that looked at 22 organisations identified as fulfilling an intermediary role in the Kenyan agricultural sector. The results show that these organisations fulfill functions that are not limited to distribution of knowledge and putting it into use. The functions also include fostering integration and interaction among the diverse actors engaged in innovation networks and working on technological, organisational and institutional innovation.
The question of how agricultural research can best be used for developmental purposes is a topic of some debate in developmental circles. The idea that this is simply a question of better transfer of ideas from research to farmers has been largely discredited. Agricultural innovation is a process that takes a multitude of different forms, and, within this process, agricultural research and expertise are mobilised at different points in time for different purposes. This paper uses two key analytical principles in order to find how research is actually put into use.
This paper reviews a recent donor-funded project concerning the introduction of post-harvest technology to poor hill farmers in India. Rather than conform to conventional development aid projects of either a “research” or an “interventionist” nature, it combines both approaches in a research-action program, which has more in common with a business development approach than a formal social science one. An important conclusion is that the work (and apparent success) of the project is consistent with an understanding of development that emphasizes the importance of innovation systems.
Este informe busca hacer el mapeo de actores y la captura de sus visiones para determinar las demandas y necesidades de los sectores, para que sirvan de elementos sustantivos para diseñar y ejecutar políticas públicas, marcos regulatorios e intervenciones directas que tengan un alto impacto en el desarrollo de ambas cadenas, coadyuvando de esta manera a garantizar la seguridad alimentaria y reducir la pobreza extrema en el área rural de Costa Rica
Este informe busca hacer el mapeo de actores y la captura de sus visiones para determinar las demandas y necesidades de los sectores, para que sirvan de elementos sustantivos para diseñar y ejecutar políticas públicas, marcos regulatorios e intervenciones directas que tengan un alto impacto en el desarrollo de ambas cadenas, coadyuvando de esta manera a garantizar la seguridad alimentaria y reducir la pobreza extrema en el área rural de Nicaragua
El presente estudio es una herramienta técnica para orientar los esfuerzos de las redes nacionales de innovación tecnológica en Honduras, y tiene como objetivo identificar la problemática y la agenda para la innovación tecnológica de los actores de la cadena de maíz en el país.
En el presente documento se puntualizan las actividades ejecutadas y los resultados alcanzados en el desarrollo de la consultoría.
Innovation platforms (IPs) are a way of organizing multistakeholder interactions, marshalling ideas, people and resources to address challenges and opportunities embedded in complex settings. The approach has its roots in theories of complexity, the concept of innovation systems and practices of participatory action research. IPs have been widely adopted across Africa and beyond in recent years as a “must have” tool in a range of “for development” modes of agricultural research.
There are divergent views on what capacity development might mean in relation to agricultural biotechnology. The core of this debate is whether this should involve the development of human capital and research infrastructure, or whether it should encompass a wider range of activities which also include developing the capacity to use knowledge productively. This paper uses the innovation systems concept to shed light on this discussion, arguing that it is innovation capacity rather than science and technology capacity that has to be developed.
El presente documento recoge una buena cantidad de insumos que informan sobre los procesos que están dirigiendo el desarrollo tecnológico de la cadena, se describen las temáticas y las tecnologías que cada actor o actores así como la agenda que están impulsando. Además, se identifican las áreas líderes hacia donde se está enfatizando y/o orientando la promoción de la innovación, temas comunes, posibilidades de cooperación y vacios temáticos.