This presentation for the Third Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD3,Johannesburg, South Africa, 5-8 April 2016) illustrates the topic of competitiveness in Africa smallholders system, focusing on the Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) and Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) concepts and on the role of the innovation platforms.
This paper outlines key areas of intervention that are identified as the core of FAO's strategy on strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) across multiple areas of work (e.g. research and extension, agroecology, biotechnology, green jobs, resourcing etc.) for achieving sustainable rural development.
Innovation processes in rural contexts occur in systems that are diverse, coupled with complex challenges. Dealing with complex systems requires an understanding of the social dynamics of actor networks and innovation.This study attempted to provide insights on thecompositional dynamics of actor networks,and how they influenceinteractive learning and innovation among agro-processing enterprises in South Africa. The guiding research questions to help address the study objectives are:What are the structural characteristics of actor networks for innovation in rural contexts?
This study aimed to describe the situation of this local breed based on the perceptions and practices of the actors in the sector (including farmers, traders and service suppliers), and to draw perspectives for its future. From the interviews, the Baladi appeared adapted and more resistant to harsh conditions, especially to extreme warm temperatures, feed shortage periods, and some diseases, in particular foot-and-mouth disease.
In this paper the developments in agricultural research and education in the Netherlands will be presented in a historic context and the recent evolutions in agriculture-based research and knowledge systems are evaluated. It is concluded that societal needs, scientific discoveries, and public and private funding are the driving forces behind change. However, most important for the quality and vigour of knowledge centres is the ability to adapt to change
Les démarches de développement local sont assez standardisées : à partir d'un diagnostic territorial, on met en oeuvre un appui technique et financier aux organisations locales, pour la réalisation de projets dont elles assureront la gestion. Mais les organisations locales sont de nature variée, toutes n'ont pas forcément envie de gérer les équipements qu'elles demandent ; ceux-ci sont plus ou moins complexes à gérer et certains relèvent des prérogatives communales. Enfin, le diagnostic initial dépend de la logique d'ensemble de l'action.
The success of multi-stakeholder ARD (Agricultural Research for Development) partnerships is often attributed to stakeholder interaction and knowledge exchange, collective learning and establishment of mutual trust between the partners involved. Achieving these outcomes depends very much on the leadership of the partnership, and how this leadership relates to partnership facilitation and also project coordination and/or management. This brief explores the different skills and attitudes required by leaders of ARD partnerships, and how these relate to different contexts.
The aim of the present article is to propose a new approach to improve interactions between stakeholders, using traceability and contractualization. Faced with a crisis generated by volatility, collective action, incorporating all stakeholders, including consumers, is needed: but what exactly must be done? The article first describes the SDSC approach which combines three main concepts: Extended Demand, Extended Supply and Demand-Supply Chain (DSC), and then goes on to detail how a collaborativemodeling tool needs to be built up.
El objetivo general que orientó el trabajo fue analizar a la luz de las teorías las ciencias de la administración la situación empresarial de La Integradora de la Frontera Sur, S.A. de C.V., para generar propuestas concretas de acción que les permitan mejorar su gestión empresarial. Los objetivos particulares serían analizar formas para proponer estrategias concretas en el interés de contribuir a su mejora e incidir con actividades de capacitación.
La literatura señala que la innovación tiene como base el conocimiento, para promover cambios que generen mayores beneficios en las empresas. En este trabajo, se analiza el nivel de adopción de innovaciones y los factores asociados en 94 empresas familiares agropecuarias y agroindustriales mexicanas, participantes en una capacitación enfocada en aspectos técnicos, administrativos, organizacionales y familiares. Se encuestó al 63% de estas empresas y se analizó la información a través de indicadores de innovación, comparación de medias y correlaciones.