Subdirección de Investigación y Extensión Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Research and Extension Branch 1 Session: Strengthening

Subdirección de Investigación y ExtensiónFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations

Research and Extension Branch

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Session: Strengthening RAS links and Session: Strengthening RAS links and institutions in agricultural innovation systemsinstitutions in agricultural innovation systems

Magdalena BlumMagdalena Blum

Extension Systems OfficerExtension Systems Officer

Food and Agriculture Organization, RomeFood and Agriculture Organization, Rome

GFRAS Annual meetingGFRAS Annual meeting

The Role of Rural Advisory Services in Agricultural The Role of Rural Advisory Services in Agricultural Innovation SystemsInnovation Systems

26-28 September 2012, Manila, Philippines26-28 September 2012, Manila, Philippines

Agricultural Innovation Systems in Family Farming and

the role of Innovation Brokerage- FAO e-conference results

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Research and Extension BranchFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations

OutlineOutline

SOFASOFA

E-Conference and its participantsE-Conference and its participants

Main issues discussed, and outcomesMain issues discussed, and outcomes

Innovation brokerageInnovation brokerage

Areas for further explorationAreas for further exploration

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SOFA on AIS in FFSOFA on AIS in FF 2014 State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2014 State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA)

publication on ‘Agricultural Innovation in Family publication on ‘Agricultural Innovation in Family Farming’ by FAOFarming’ by FAO• the UN General Assembly declared 2014 to be the International Year of the UN General Assembly declared 2014 to be the International Year of

Family FarmingFamily Farming

Participatory SOFA process:Participatory SOFA process:• Expert Consultation on AIS and family farming at FAO HQ (March 2012)Expert Consultation on AIS and family farming at FAO HQ (March 2012)• e-mail conference on "Ensuring the full participation of family farmers in e-mail conference on "Ensuring the full participation of family farmers in

agricultural innovation systems: Key issues and case studies“ (4 June to 1 agricultural innovation systems: Key issues and case studies“ (4 June to 1 July 2012)July 2012)

• FAO Technical Workshop on “Family farming for sustainable food security, FAO Technical Workshop on “Family farming for sustainable food security, agriculture and rural development” - agriculture and rural development” - The role of policies, institutions and The role of policies, institutions and Diaspora communities, Diaspora communities, (10 – 11 Sept. 2012)(10 – 11 Sept. 2012)

• Other events, high number of experts contributions to the writing Other events, high number of experts contributions to the writing of the SOFAof the SOFA

Further information:Further information:• http://www.fao.org/oek/research-extension-systems/ais-ff/es/http://www.fao.org/oek/research-extension-systems/ais-ff/es/

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Research and Extension BranchFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations E-conference on AIS E-conference on AIS

in FFin FF John Ruane as E-conference facilitator; 558 John Ruane as E-conference facilitator; 558

subscriberssubscribers Total of 242 messages received from 114 peopleTotal of 242 messages received from 114 people Regional origin of the messages:Regional origin of the messages:

• 42% came from people living in Africa42% came from people living in Africa• 28% from Asia28% from Asia• 19% from Europe 19% from Europe • 8% from Latin America and the Caribbean8% from Latin America and the Caribbean• 3% from North America and 3% from North America and • 1 message from Oceania. 1 message from Oceania.

77% of messages were posted by people living 77% of messages were posted by people living in developing countries. in developing countries.

People were from 48 different countries.People were from 48 different countries.

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Research and Extension BranchFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations E-conference on AIS E-conference on AIS

in FFin FF Background of the active participants (242 messages): Background of the active participants (242 messages):

• 26% came from people working in research centers 26% came from people working in research centers (58 in national institutes and 4 in CGIAR centers); (58 in national institutes and 4 in CGIAR centers);

• 20% from people working in universities; 20% from people working in universities; • 17% from people in non-governmental organizations; 17% from people in non-governmental organizations; • 16% from people working in Government ministries or 16% from people working in Government ministries or

bodies; bodies; • 9% from people in the private sector; 9% from people in the private sector; • 6% from people working at FAO headquarters or in 6% from people working at FAO headquarters or in

FAO offices around the world; FAO offices around the world; • 4% from independent consultants; 4% from independent consultants; • 1% from farmers and 1% from other development 1% from farmers and 1% from other development

agencies agencies

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Main issues discussed and Main issues discussed and resultsresults

1.1. Farmer innovations Farmer innovations are important and should be better are important and should be better documented. Closer links to formal research were called for to documented. Closer links to formal research were called for to allow scientific validation as well as to learn and build on allow scientific validation as well as to learn and build on farmer innovations. farmer innovations.

2.2. The full integration of The full integration of Farmer Organizations Farmer Organizations in AIS was in AIS was largely emphasized. Their empowerment through collective largely emphasized. Their empowerment through collective action in FOs would provide family farmers a wide range of action in FOs would provide family farmers a wide range of advantages in key areas of AIS.advantages in key areas of AIS.

3.3. Access to markets Access to markets - Availability of market opportunities is of - Availability of market opportunities is of crucial importance for adoption of innovation by family crucial importance for adoption of innovation by family farmers.farmers.

4.4. Research and extension Research and extension has to become more demand-has to become more demand-driven. Their roles need to change so that research, extension driven. Their roles need to change so that research, extension and farmers were more closely interlinked with better and farmers were more closely interlinked with better communication and coordination. communication and coordination. • Incentive systems Incentive systems • Dedicated brokeringDedicated brokering

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Main issues discussed and Main issues discussed and resultsresults

5.5. Risk associated with innovation: Risk associated with innovation: – Resource poor farmers wish to minimize risk which has

major impact on the adoption of innovations

6.6. Greater recognition to women farmersGreater recognition to women farmers– Equal and full attention should be given to men and women

farmers to enable them to participate in and benefit from AIS

7.7. Importance of young farmersImportance of young farmers– Emphasis should be placed on farm profitability and

entrepreneurship development– Perception of farming needs to be improved– Use of ICTs in farming can increase the appeal of

agriculture to young people

8.8. Information and Communication TechnologiesInformation and Communication Technologies– ICTs can enhance full participation of family farmers in AIS– Emphasis on mobile phone, e.g. for linking farmers closer

to markets, to each other and to extension agents, and for documentation of farmer innovations

– Radio was underlined given its acceptability, availability, low cost and use of local languages

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9. Innovation brokers9. Innovation brokers

To make AIS (= complex systems) work better, To make AIS (= complex systems) work better, participants saw a key role for innovation brokersparticipants saw a key role for innovation brokers

““The core idea of innovation systems is interaction, The core idea of innovation systems is interaction, collaboration, but also often negotiation among multiple collaboration, but also often negotiation among multiple stakeholders” stakeholders”

“ “We cannot call it a system as long as actors are on their We cannot call it a system as long as actors are on their quiet and peaceful islands” quiet and peaceful islands”

“ … “ … The broader and more complete the actors are The broader and more complete the actors are organized as a community around specific food and organized as a community around specific food and agriculture systems, the better AIS can be built in a agriculture systems, the better AIS can be built in a sustainable way” sustainable way”

There seemed to be consensus that innovation brokers There seemed to be consensus that innovation brokers did not have to be specialized organizations and that did not have to be specialized organizations and that different kinds of AIS stakeholders could potentially play different kinds of AIS stakeholders could potentially play this role. this role.

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Key roles for innovation Key roles for innovation brokersbrokers

““Lubricants of the innovation engine”Lubricants of the innovation engine” ““Vital in linking multi-stakeholders in the different value Vital in linking multi-stakeholders in the different value

chains”chains” ““The more innovation brokers we have, in more The more innovation brokers we have, in more

organizations, the more innovation will be possible”organizations, the more innovation will be possible” One participant argued that decision-makers might need to One participant argued that decision-makers might need to

be exposed to innovation brokering before they really be exposed to innovation brokering before they really appreciated its valueappreciated its value

The PAEPARD experiences also indicated that:The PAEPARD experiences also indicated that:• it is essential for the broker to play an independent role it is essential for the broker to play an independent role

within the consortium; within the consortium; • the broker should not be a member of the lead the broker should not be a member of the lead

institution; and institution; and • she/he should be acceptable to all the consortium she/he should be acceptable to all the consortium

members.members.

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Innovation brokers Innovation brokers - Who should they - Who should they

be?be? The existing advisors do not provide this roleThe existing advisors do not provide this role

Innovation brokers do not have to be specialized Innovation brokers do not have to be specialized organizationsorganizations

Different kinds of AIS stakeholders could Different kinds of AIS stakeholders could potentially play this rolepotentially play this role

Brokering might involve a network of individuals Brokering might involve a network of individuals with different roles, rather than a single with different roles, rather than a single individual or organization individual or organization

Discussion on specialists in brokering versus Discussion on specialists in brokering versus brokering by advisorsbrokering by advisors• Depends on the complexity of the task and the Depends on the complexity of the task and the

institutions involvedinstitutions involved• Specific training requiredSpecific training required

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Who should pay for these Who should pay for these services ?services ?

No consensus on this aspectNo consensus on this aspect

It is generally hard to get funding for brokering in AISIt is generally hard to get funding for brokering in AIS• Brokering services are rarely paid fully by the public sector Brokering services are rarely paid fully by the public sector

anywhere in the worldanywhere in the world• AIS actors are normally reluctant to pay when their own direct AIS actors are normally reluctant to pay when their own direct

interests are not involved; interests are not involved; • Research institutions, civil society organizations or farmer Research institutions, civil society organizations or farmer

organization will rarely pay for external brokersorganization will rarely pay for external brokers

Since innovation projects are often led by research Since innovation projects are often led by research organizations, it was also argued that funding for organizations, it was also argued that funding for innovation processes and brokering are not innovation processes and brokering are not prioritized.prioritized.

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Areas for further Areas for further explorationexploration

Innovation brokerageInnovation brokerage• Learning from organizations doing specific brokerageLearning from organizations doing specific brokerage

What is unique about AIS ?What is unique about AIS ?• Do farmer organizations have a unique role to play in Do farmer organizations have a unique role to play in

AIS?AIS?

Learning from successful AISLearning from successful AIS

Differentiating farmersDifferentiating farmers• Risk averse and commercial/market-oriented farmersRisk averse and commercial/market-oriented farmers• What should policies be like to cater for the two What should policies be like to cater for the two

groups, while not harming either onegroups, while not harming either one

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Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

http://www.fao.org/oek/research-extension-systems/http://www.fao.org/oek/research-extension-systems/res-home/en/res-home/en/

Documents

Subdirección de Investigación y Extensión Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Research and Extension Branch 1 Session: Strengthening