On (Dis)Connections and Transformations: The Role of the Agricultural Innovation System in the Adoption of Improved Forages in Colombia

Feeding improvement strategies are key in increasing cattle productivity and reducing its environmental footprint. Nevertheless, Colombian tropical cattle systems still feature serious deficiencies in both forage quality and availability. As a result of past and on-going forage Research and Development (R&D) processes, institutions have released 23 grass and legume cultivars of superior characteristics in terms of forage quality, supply, or adaptation to different soil and climate conditions, while providing numerous environmental benefits. However, low levels of adoption are observed: although R&D processes are a necessary condition for adoption, they are still not sufficient to guarantee agricultural technification in Colombia. The ultimate success occurs only when end-users make effective use of a technology–a link constantly interrupted. Agricultural innovation requires complex processes of interaction in which knowledge is shared amongst organizations involved in the Agricultural Innovation System (AIS), namely: suitable links, attitudes, practices, governance structures, and policies. The objective of this study is to identify limitations and opportunities in R&D, adoption, and diffusion of forage technologies in Colombia from an AIS perspective. Particularly, we present a study case pertaining to research institutions only, to (a) map the involved actors and describe their roles and links, and (b) identify the events that marked the evolution of the AIS and the course of forage R&D in its research-related components. We applied a qualitative methodology based on focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, literature review, and historical analysis. Results show that the complex nature of institutions and the interactions between them determine the historical transformation of diffusion of forage technologies. The lack of connection between institutions and the weak intensity of the relationships, prevent the convergence of interests and objectives, leading to vicious cycles that hamper technology adoption. Insufficient synchronization between institutions of different nature (and even between those that share similar objectives) results in efficiency losses due to an unnecessary repetition of activities and processes. We provide recommendations for policy- and decision-makers that will help in both a restructuration of the AIS and a better allocation of funds for R&D, and thus support the development of more effective pathways for forage adoption and scaling.

Local public-private partnerships to promote innovation in agricultural value chains: the case of cocoa in Colombia

The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of developing more viable local public-private partnerships (LPPP) which may result in innovation in the cocoa value chain, through the agricultural innovation system functions approach. Research was conducted in two rural municipalities in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia. A focus group with stakeholders as well as directed surveys were implemented. 15 experts in the municipality of Necoclí, and 18 experts in the municipality of Caucasia participated. The data were analyzed quantitatively and the MACTOR method was used in order to determine the relationship between actors and the strategic objectives for innovation. Case studies revealed different dynamics, both from the perspective of the interests at play when actors prioritized key variables in each region, as well as their vision regarding strategic objectives to promote innovation in the cocoa value chain. Different degrees of convergence and correspondence between actors and strategic objectives in each region provided the grounds to determine the possible partnerships in the cocoa chain. Key actors with different capabilities and resources were also identified, as they could contribute to leveraging local innovation should a partnership come to be developed.

Agro-Food Innovation and Sustainability Transition: A Conceptual Synthesis

The global community faces the challenge of feeding a growing population with declining resources, making transformation to sustainable agriculture and food systems all the more imperative and ‘innovation’ all the more crucial. In this study, agro-food system innovation (re)defines sustainability transition with a complexity construct of cross-scale interaction and an adaptive cycle of system change. By taking a panarchical view, top-down and bottom-up pathways to innovation can be reconciled and are not contradictory, enabling and constraining innovation at every level. This study breaks down the structure of the agricultural innovation system into four components based on multi-level perspectives of sustainability transition, namely: actors and communities, interaction and intermediaries, coherence and connectedness and regimes rules and landscape. Meanwhile, this research frames the functional construct of system innovation for food and agriculture with five perspectives drawing on broad inputs from different schools of thought, namely: knowledge management, user sophistication, entrepreneurial activities’ directionality and reflexive evaluation. This research advocates for an ecosystem approach to agricultural innovation that gives full play to niche-regime interactions using social-technical perspectives.

OPERASIONALISASI SPEKTRUM DISEMINASI MULTI CHANNEL TEKNOLOGI PERTANIAN UNTUK DISEMINASI YANG EFEKTIF

<p>Downstreaming information of Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Technology (IAARD) technology is carried out, among others, through the Multi Channel Dissemination Spectrum (MCDS). The SDMC employs various dissemination channels and actors to accelerate technology dissemination. MCDS discussions at the operating level are limited especially on how it contributes to more technology adoption. Referring to the Agricultural Innovation System, an innovation arises due to support of various subsystems ranging from technology providers, carriers, users, markets, policies, and interactions among subsystems. Likewise, the MCDS should be supported by its subsystems for an effective dissemination. This paper aims to contribute ideas on subsystems requirements in the implementation of the MCDS and how these subsystems can drive the delivered technology information to be adopted by users. The supporting subsystems (planning, approaches in the implementation process, policies, infrastructure) for technology implementation are essential in dissemination activities. As a system, MCDS does not only focus on delivering IAARD’s technology information, but the success of technological innovation must be supported by dissemination planning and its subsystems, technology application ecosystem, and interaction between potential users and technology producers.</p>

Efficiency of Stakeholders in Agricultural Innovation System

Efficiency is an ability to do things well, successfully and without waste of time and energy. It is a measurable concept that can be determined by using the ratio of useful output to total input. The resources might be men, money, machines and materials that are being used within time for accomplishment of desired activity. Being efficient means the system uses inputs in a right way. If the input-output ratio is adverse then system may work inefficiently. In present study, technical efficiency, cost-effective efficiency and allocative efficiency of stakeholders were identified. The present study was carried out in seven districts of South Gujarat during 2020. The six types of stakeholder were playing pivotal role in AIS hence the list of each type of stakeholder were obtained from the concerned authorities. A simple random sampling method was adopted to obtain respondents sample size. Thus, 30 researchers, 50 extensionists, 30 In-charge of NGOs, 30 managers of private agencies, 50 owner of agro-service providers and 50 progressive farmers were selected. All the 240 stakeholders were randomly selected. The statistical tools and method was used to analyze the data were frequency, percentage and arbitrary method. It can be concluded that more than two fifth (47.50%) of the stakeholders equally had good and excellent level of efficiency among stakeholders in Agricultural Innovation System.