This report explores the role of rural networks in enhancing innovation processes, questioning the features of the agricultural/rural networks could enhance farmers’ ability to co-innovate in cooperation with other actors. The prospect of this investigation is also to provide interesting and significant experiences that constitute examples for the ‘European Innovation Partnership’ by increasing farmers’ capacities to create, test, implement and evaluate innovations in cooperation with other rural actors.
Recently, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKISs) have gained considerable attention in scientific and political forums in the European Union (EU). AKIS is considered a key concept in identifying, analysing and assessing the various actors in the agricultural sector as well as their communication and interaction for innovation processes. Using qualitative expert interviews and organizational mapping, the features of national AKISs were investigated in selected EU member states (Belgium, France, Ireland, Germany, Portugal and the UK).
En este artículo se abordan los programas institucionales implementados en contextos locales y la acción colectiva para el desarrollo de alimentos con arraigo territorial, desde el enfoque de los Sistemas Agroalimentarios Localizados (Sial). Se analiza el caso de un programa piloto para la producción de cuitlacoche (Ustílago Maydis sp.) en el estado de Tlaxcala, México, y dos microempresas familiares involucradas en la producción de ese hongo utilizado en la alimentación humana.