scholarly journals Working together: reflections on building 'knowledge partnerships' between researchers, farmers and advisors

2006 ◽  
pp. 243-247
Author(s):  
Sean Kenny ◽  
Carolyn Kaboré
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Research Development ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Knowledge Types ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Farming Systems Research ◽  
Key Industry ◽  
Feeding Systems

In agricultural research, development and extension (RD&E) the importance of building partnerships between technology collaborators (e.g. farmers, researchers, extension, industry) is widely accepted. The FutureDairy project has formalised relationships and interactions between farmers, researchers and advisors to 'co-develop' knowledge and technologies that address key industry challenges. Separate industry partnerships have been established to study opportunities in forages, feeding and labour saving innovations. Reflections on these partnerships, and their performance to date, suggests there may be benefit in knowledge partners having a better understanding of expectations for the partnership. Also highlighted is the way in which a technology codevelopment approach, though suited to developing guidelines for managing new technologies, may not be suited to systems questions. Issues that require multiple technologies and knowledge types to be addressed appear, from our experience, to require a different form of partnership than those used for developing new technologies. Without an understanding of these principles, RD&E organisations may still fail to deliver on industry expectations even while they are encouraging greater industry participation. Keywords: knowledge partnerships, co-development, feeding systems, complementary forage rotations, multidisciplinarity, partner farms, farming systems research project.

Institutionalizing the Farming Systems Perspective in Multi-commodity Research Institutes: The Role of Systems-based Research Groups

1991 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dunstan S. C. Spencer
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
International Institute ◽  
Small Farmers ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Research Institutes ◽  
Research Programmes ◽  
Farming Systems Research ◽  
Research Centres

SUMMARYResearch institutes in Africa have had limited success in producing new technologies appropriate to the needs of small farmers because of an inadequate understanding of small farmers' goals and resource limitations and over-reliance on the transfer of technologies from other regions. Farming systems research (FSR) is an effective way of improving the focus of scientists on the problems farmers face. Vertically segmented thematic research programmes make institutionalization of FSR difficult within multi-commodity research centres, particularly the International Agricultural Research Centres. The Farming Systems Research Group has proved effective at overcoming such difficulties at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Its organization, operation and effects on the performance of the research programmes are described.

Development of more effective conservation farming systems through participatory on-farm research

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 98-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.B. Wuest ◽  
D.K. McCool ◽  
B.C. Miller ◽  
R.J. Veseth
Keyword(s):  
Participatory Research ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Conservation Farming ◽  
Working Together ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Current Emphasis

AbstractResearch aimed at advancing conservation farming practices is typically performed using traditional scientific approaches, which have been highly successful in increasing agricultural output and efficiency. With the current emphasis on environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture, there is a need for a more integrated approach to applied agricultural research. Participatory research helps to bring scientific methods and the integrated production needs of farmers together to develop practical, effective, and carefully tested farming methods. The strength of participatory research is in the synergism of scientists and farmers working together to design, implement, and evaluate research. The development of new technologies for farming systems large or small, conventional or organic, can be greatly enhanced through more extensive use of participatory research.

Grain & Graze: an innovative triple bottom line approach to collaborative and multidisciplinary mixed-farming systems research, development and extension

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 729 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Price ◽  
R. B. Hacker
Keyword(s):  
Triple Bottom Line ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Research Development ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Explicit Recognition ◽  
Training Courses ◽  
Farming Systems Research

The Grain & Graze program attempted to improve the ‘triple bottom line’ of mixed-farming systems in Australia through a major program of research, development and extension (RD&E) that operated across nine regions, with a total budget of A$31million provided by four R&D corporations and over 60 regional partners. Regional activities were complemented by a series of national projects and management and governance arrangements were organised at both regional and national levels with significant producer input. While the two-tiered management structure resulted in both tensions and opportunities the outputs of the program were substantial including 278 demonstration and trial sites, 180 training courses, over 200 publications, tools and manuals, over 100 research papers and a database of national and regional data. Over 8000 producers participated in program events, over 5000 actively trialled new activities and around 3200 adopted recommended practices despite severely unfavourable seasonal conditions over the 5 years of the program. A return on investment of 3.4 : 1 for the core funders was comparable to some other agricultural RD&E programs if lower than others. The program expanded the scope of farming systems RD&E in Australia through explicit recognition of the triple bottom line and development of formal and informal approaches to integration across these dimensions. It established regional and inter-regional networks of producers and scientists that can be expected to have ongoing significance. The papers that follow in this special issue reflect the magnitude of the program’s achievements.

scholarly journals Incorporating leucaena into goat production systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-181
Author(s):  
Frances C. Cowley ◽  
Romana Roschinsky
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Silvopastoral Systems ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Keynote Paper ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Worm Control ◽  
Farming Systems Research ◽  
Feeding Systems

Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.The integration of leucaena into goat production systems in the tropics and subtropics is reviewed. Goats are well adapted to leucaena, and able to be productive on diets containing up to 100% leucaena as a result of bacterial and hepatic detoxification. Incorporation of leucaena into goat production systems can improve liveweight gains, milk production, worm control and reproduction. Successful feeding systems for goats can be based on both grazed silvopastoral systems and cut-and-carry intensive systems, although there is a lack of farming systems research examining the integration of leucaena into goat production systems, or documentation of the practicalities of these practices.

Farming systems research: relevance to Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Petheram ◽  
R. A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Research Procedure ◽  
Lower Income Countries ◽  
Farming Systems Research

Summary. Farming systems research was introduced into many international and national agricultural research institutes in lower income countries in the 1970s and 1980s with the purpose of improving the relevance of research for small-scale farmers. This review outlines the origin, context, goals, principles and process of farming systems research in these countries, and aims to enable agricultural professionals to assess the relevance and value of farming systems research to their work in particular situations in Australia and overseas. The key elements of farming systems research include a holistic approach, orientation towards the needs of defined target groups, high levels of farmer participation and hence co-learning by farmers and specialists. There is guidance by facilitators, continuous evaluation and linkage to policy makers. The goal of farming systems research is to improve the well-being of farmers through development of farming systems. It involves application of methods from various disciplines, first to define the constraints and opportunities for development and then to overcome these in a research process involving farmers, with specialists and policy makers. A generalised farming systems research procedure and various research activities are described. Initially in lower income countries, a fairly standard farming systems research procedure was used, but farming systems research has evolved to encompass a range of activities commonly regarded as the realm of agricultural extension or rural development. Basic science, applied science and farming systems research are compared in terms of the roles and relationships of the people involved in the research process. The implications of selecting farming systems research as a model for rural research and development are discussed. Achieving adequate levels of farmer participation can be a major issue in farming systems research so it is important that the principal notions of participation are understood. Success of farming systems research in Australia will depend on developing innovative ways of achieving high levels of participation. Current trends in the philosophy, practice and funding of agricultural research and extension in Australia make it timely to consider the wider adoption of farming systems research principles and practices. Farming systems research could provide a valuable philosophical and practical basis for the trend towards greater participation by researchers with end-users and extension practitioners in agricultural development programs. However, it seems unwise to adhere strictly to any one particular model of research and development from other places: farming systems research concepts are being combined successfully with those from other models, such as systems learning and computer modelling, to suit the needs of particular situations. Implications of a wider adoption of farming systems research in Australia for agricultural research and development organisations and professional bodies include, the establishment of multidisciplinary teams with shared goals, and the sourcing of funding for periods long enough to achieve outcomes. There is also a need for training in systems concepts and facilitation, for reputable channels of publication of the results of farming systems research and for greater recognition of participatory activities as valid forms of agricultural research.

The Impact of Regular Research Field Hearings (RRFH) in On-farm Trials in Northeast Brazil

1988 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Baker ◽  
Hendrik C. Knipscheer ◽  
Jose De Souza Neto
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Northeast Brazil ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Farming Systems Research

SUMMARYThe study of livestock in farming systems research presents several challenges. Factors such as the small number of observations, high statistical variability in measurements, and the difficulty in valuing non-market inputs and outputs make it difficult to evaluate on-farm research. Regular Research Field Hearings (RRFH) can improve communication between scientists and farmers, thereby increasing mutual understanding, willingness to collaborate in evaluation, potential technologies, and also improving test results. Of three groups of sheep and goat farmers involved in on-farm testing in northeast Brazil, the group which participated in RRFH experienced a significantly higher level of success with the technology as measured according to performance criteria such as weight gains and farmers' perceptions of their animals' performance. The results confirm the importance of farmers' participation in agricultural research.

scholarly journals Issues in farming systems research.

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 253-261
Author(s):  
L.O. Fresco
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Research Abstract ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Research Programmes ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Third World ◽  
Farming Systems Research

There is growing concern about the gap between maximum yields obtained in research stations and actual farmers' yields. Farming systems research (FSR) aims to study the production constraints of small farmers in the Third World outside the research station with a view to developing technologies that fit their needs. Stages in FSR are: definition of fields for recommendation, diagnostic survey, design and on-farm testing of technology, and dissemination. Major methodological and institutional issues in the FSR approach are discussed. It is concluded that a future role for FSR lies in broadening the scope of existing agricultural research programmes. Thus, FSR is not a separate discipline but provides a focus for the different disciplines involved in agricultural research. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

Farming Systems Research: Clarification of Terms and Concepts

1986 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Merrill Sands
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
General Term ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
International Agricultural Research ◽  
The Past ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Donor Support ◽  
Farming Systems Research

SUMMARYFarming Systems Research (FSR) has emerged as a major theme in international agricultural research in the past decade. However, despite widespread use of the term, its meaning and the types of research objectives, approaches, activities and methods to which it applies remain ambiguous. The lack of precision in concepts and terms will discredit FSR and jeopardize donor support. This paper seeks to clarify and define the major types of research approaches and activities encompassed by the general term FSR. Six types of research are distinguished and a new, more precise terminology is proposed.

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