One option for practically applying innovation systems thinking involves the establishment of innovation platforms (IPs). Such platforms are designed to bring together a variety of different stakeholders to exchange knowledge and resources and take action to solve common problems. Yet relatively little is known about how IPs operate in practice, particularly how power dynamics influence platform processes.This paper focuses on a research-for-development project in the Ethiopian highlands which established three IPs for improved natural resource management.
More than 25 years after the first implementation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), there is a rich corpus of evidence that participation in FFS improves farmers’ knowledge, skills, and competencies. On the other hand, several studies converge to show that FFS, by strengthening group action, have the potential to build-up social capital among participants and, thereafter, within local communities.
In order to realize the potential of agricultural innovation in family farming, national priorities of sustainably increasing food production and productivity, and reducing hunger and poverty, require rural knowledge institutions to be stronger and communication processes to be improved. This brief synthesizes the focus of FAO’s research and extension branch on transforming agricultural innovation systems of member countries.
Asterio P. Saliot, National Director of the Agricultural Training Institute (Department of Agriculture, Philippines), presented the RAS context of his country at the 3rd GFRAS Annual Meeting, "The Role of Rural Advisory Services in Agricultural Innovation Systems", 26-28 September 2012, Philippines.
The presentation describes the role of extension, key players and capacities needed within the context of the Philippine Agricultural Innovation System.
They were once the central element in state-funded research, but now the research bodies need to redefine their role as partners in the innovation process, responding more efficiently to the needs of society and businesses. In agriculture, the concept of innovation was dominated in the past by linear knowledge transfer in the form of new technologies that were essentially generated by public research (research institutes or universities), transferred to the agricultural extension services, and hence to the farmers for adoption.
To meet multiple environmental objectives, integrated programming is becoming increasingly important for the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). Integration of multiple environmental, social and economic objectives also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a timely and cost-effective way. However, integration is often not well defined. This report therefore focuses on identifying key aspects of integration and assessing their implementation in natural resources management projects.
Dans plusieurs domaines des sciences sociales et humaines (éducation, communication, travail social, économie sociale, médecine communautaire, technologie rurale, et pratiques politiques et syndicales, entre autres), et même dans les sciences dites « dures », la recherche appartient de moins en moins à un monde à part de spécialistes éloignés du terrain. Ce type de recherches – recherche participative, recherche-action, recherche collaborative, recherche-formation – se caractérise par un processus de production des connaissances effectué de concert avec les acteurs de terrain.
This book discusses innovation problems and opportunities for family farming in the different regions of the American continent, as well as the role of hemispheric, regional and national agrifood research systems. Likewise, it provides a description of the main innovation actions and projects promoted by IICA, and the main success cases over recent years.
La obra que nos complace presentar reúne un conjunto de estudios de caso y un análisis transversal de las políticas públicas para la agricultura familiar en once países latinoamericanos, complementados por un ensayo interpretativo acerca de las implicaciones para políticas públicas derivadas de los principales eventos internacionales del Año Internacional de la Agricultura Familiar en América Latina.
Del 1 al 4 de noviembre del 2016, expertos de varios países del hemisferio analizaron el papel de las mujeres rurales en el desarrollo y la sostenibilidad de la agricultura familiar, las políticas públicas diferenciadas para la agricultura familiar, el desarrollo rural en Centroamérica y la situación de la juventud rural en la región.