Multi-actors agricultural innovation platform: guideline for master trainers

Multi-actors agricultural innovation platform: guideline for master trainers

Author: Yang, P., van de Fliert, E., Musayev, N., Akhundov, Y., Ou, Y.

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2022-03-20

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 9251359199

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Multi-actors innovation platforms (MAIPs) are increasingly deployed as a model for participatory and inclusive innovation to address the challenges of sustainability in complex systems like the agri-food systems. The facilitation of co-innovation and multi-actor partnerships is critical to the success of MAIPs, as a common lesson learned across the multitude of initiatives around the world. The guideline was developed for Master Trainers to train MAIP facilitators. The guideline first gives an introduction to the definiton, principles, design, establishment and facilitation of MAIPs. Then, it explains the principles, curriculum development and preparation, and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of MAIP training of facilitators courses as well as mentoring of MAIP facilitators. Finally, the guideline offers a generic structure of MAIP training of facilitator curriculum. It is suggested that this guideline be used as a reference for MAIP master trainers to formulate context-specific training objectives, approach, learning activities and field-based action.


Book Synopsis Multi-actors agricultural innovation platform: guideline for master trainers by : Yang, P., van de Fliert, E., Musayev, N., Akhundov, Y., Ou, Y.

Download or read book Multi-actors agricultural innovation platform: guideline for master trainers written by Yang, P., van de Fliert, E., Musayev, N., Akhundov, Y., Ou, Y. and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2022-03-20 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Multi-actors innovation platforms (MAIPs) are increasingly deployed as a model for participatory and inclusive innovation to address the challenges of sustainability in complex systems like the agri-food systems. The facilitation of co-innovation and multi-actor partnerships is critical to the success of MAIPs, as a common lesson learned across the multitude of initiatives around the world. The guideline was developed for Master Trainers to train MAIP facilitators. The guideline first gives an introduction to the definiton, principles, design, establishment and facilitation of MAIPs. Then, it explains the principles, curriculum development and preparation, and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of MAIP training of facilitators courses as well as mentoring of MAIP facilitators. Finally, the guideline offers a generic structure of MAIP training of facilitator curriculum. It is suggested that this guideline be used as a reference for MAIP master trainers to formulate context-specific training objectives, approach, learning activities and field-based action.

Handbook on establishing and operating multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms

Handbook on establishing and operating multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2023-11-02

Total Pages: 158

ISBN-13: 9251382379

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Multi-actor agricultural innovation platforms (MAIPs), as models for inclusive and collaborative innovation, are increasingly deployed in farmer communities to solve the last-mile bottleneck, namely, the empowerment of smallholder farmers and value chain actors to access innovation and services to drive field-level change. Facilitators play a critical role in establishing and operating MAIPs, stimulating interactions among MAIP actors and thereby supporting co-innovation and co-learning processes. They are usually specialized MAIP actors (e.g. researchers, extension agents, agricultural educationists, brokers, NGO activists, traders and processors). Qualified MAIP facilitators, as value chain intermediaries and coordinators, are required to have strong facilitation skills and relevant technical background. They are normally trained through training of MAIP facilitator courses or through the implementation of a MAIP. This handbook aims to support MAIP facilitators to establish and operate MAIPs. It summarizes the experience of the MAIPs in persimmon, hazelnut and honey value chains that FAO implemented as part of the European Union-funded project “Development of sustainable and inclusive local food systems in north-west region of Azerbaijan (GCP/AZE/014/EC)”, the “Tropical Agricultural Platform Agricultural Innovation System (TAP-AIS)” project implemented in Malawi, and the Science and Technology Backyard (STB) initiative led by the China Agricultural University (CAU). It also draws on the experience of the training course “Training of master trainers for establishing and operating Multi-actors Agricultural Innovation Platforms” co-organized by FAO and CAU on 11–15 July 2023.


Book Synopsis Handbook on establishing and operating multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms by : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Download or read book Handbook on establishing and operating multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2023-11-02 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Multi-actor agricultural innovation platforms (MAIPs), as models for inclusive and collaborative innovation, are increasingly deployed in farmer communities to solve the last-mile bottleneck, namely, the empowerment of smallholder farmers and value chain actors to access innovation and services to drive field-level change. Facilitators play a critical role in establishing and operating MAIPs, stimulating interactions among MAIP actors and thereby supporting co-innovation and co-learning processes. They are usually specialized MAIP actors (e.g. researchers, extension agents, agricultural educationists, brokers, NGO activists, traders and processors). Qualified MAIP facilitators, as value chain intermediaries and coordinators, are required to have strong facilitation skills and relevant technical background. They are normally trained through training of MAIP facilitator courses or through the implementation of a MAIP. This handbook aims to support MAIP facilitators to establish and operate MAIPs. It summarizes the experience of the MAIPs in persimmon, hazelnut and honey value chains that FAO implemented as part of the European Union-funded project “Development of sustainable and inclusive local food systems in north-west region of Azerbaijan (GCP/AZE/014/EC)”, the “Tropical Agricultural Platform Agricultural Innovation System (TAP-AIS)” project implemented in Malawi, and the Science and Technology Backyard (STB) initiative led by the China Agricultural University (CAU). It also draws on the experience of the training course “Training of master trainers for establishing and operating Multi-actors Agricultural Innovation Platforms” co-organized by FAO and CAU on 11–15 July 2023.

Guide for training of facilitators of multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms

Guide for training of facilitators of multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms

Author: Yang, P., van de Fliert, E., Ou, Y.

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2022-01-17

Total Pages: 86

ISBN-13: 9251356211

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Facilitation has proved crucial for enabling the interaction of Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) actors to address the target and to innovate. This “Guide on training of facilitators of multi-actor agricultural innovation platform” is aimed at serving facilitators when multi-actor agricultural innovation platforms (MAIPs) are organized. Since MAIPs are still an emerging concept, there are not many cases to refer to. This guide mainly summarizes the experiences from the implementation of MAIPs in permission, hazelnuts and honey value chains that FAO organized through the EU-funded project of Development of sustainable and inclusive local food systems in north-west region of Azerbaijan (GCP/AZE/014/EC) and STB initiatives. This guide is a guideline tool, rather than a textbook for training MAIPs facilitators. Facilitators should keep in mind that MAIPs advocate learning by doing, through practice. They should conduct MAIPs by referring to the training activities in this book instead of copying. Although the authors have tried their best to make this guide applicable to agricultural production and social development in various places, it is difficult to cover all the content. Therefore, MAIPs facilitators using this book are encouraged to give full play to creativity and develop training activities and methods sensitive to local characteristics and value chains.


Book Synopsis Guide for training of facilitators of multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms by : Yang, P., van de Fliert, E., Ou, Y.

Download or read book Guide for training of facilitators of multi-actors agricultural innovation platforms written by Yang, P., van de Fliert, E., Ou, Y. and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2022-01-17 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Facilitation has proved crucial for enabling the interaction of Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) actors to address the target and to innovate. This “Guide on training of facilitators of multi-actor agricultural innovation platform” is aimed at serving facilitators when multi-actor agricultural innovation platforms (MAIPs) are organized. Since MAIPs are still an emerging concept, there are not many cases to refer to. This guide mainly summarizes the experiences from the implementation of MAIPs in permission, hazelnuts and honey value chains that FAO organized through the EU-funded project of Development of sustainable and inclusive local food systems in north-west region of Azerbaijan (GCP/AZE/014/EC) and STB initiatives. This guide is a guideline tool, rather than a textbook for training MAIPs facilitators. Facilitators should keep in mind that MAIPs advocate learning by doing, through practice. They should conduct MAIPs by referring to the training activities in this book instead of copying. Although the authors have tried their best to make this guide applicable to agricultural production and social development in various places, it is difficult to cover all the content. Therefore, MAIPs facilitators using this book are encouraged to give full play to creativity and develop training activities and methods sensitive to local characteristics and value chains.

Innovation Platforms for Agricultural Development

Innovation Platforms for Agricultural Development

Author: Iddo Dror

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2015-12-22

Total Pages: 231

ISBN-13: 1317296133

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Innovation Platforms (IPs) form the core of many Agricultural Research for Development programmes, stimulating multi-stakeholder collaboration and action towards the realization of agricultural development outcomes. This book enhances the body of knowledge of IPs by focusing on mature IPs in agricultural systems research, including the crop and livestock sectors, and innovations in farmer cooperatives and agricultural extension services. Resulting from an international IP case study competition, the examples reported will help the many actors involved with agricultural IPs worldwide reflect on their actions and achievements (or failures), and find tools to share their experience. Chapters feature case studies from Central Africa, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nicaragua and Uganda. Authors reflect critically on the impact of IPs and showcase their progress, providing an important sourcebook and inspiration for students, researchers and professionals.


Book Synopsis Innovation Platforms for Agricultural Development by : Iddo Dror

Download or read book Innovation Platforms for Agricultural Development written by Iddo Dror and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-12-22 with total page 231 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Innovation Platforms (IPs) form the core of many Agricultural Research for Development programmes, stimulating multi-stakeholder collaboration and action towards the realization of agricultural development outcomes. This book enhances the body of knowledge of IPs by focusing on mature IPs in agricultural systems research, including the crop and livestock sectors, and innovations in farmer cooperatives and agricultural extension services. Resulting from an international IP case study competition, the examples reported will help the many actors involved with agricultural IPs worldwide reflect on their actions and achievements (or failures), and find tools to share their experience. Chapters feature case studies from Central Africa, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nicaragua and Uganda. Authors reflect critically on the impact of IPs and showcase their progress, providing an important sourcebook and inspiration for students, researchers and professionals.

Documenting and scaling up knowledge and innovations – Guidelines and templates

Documenting and scaling up knowledge and innovations – Guidelines and templates

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2022-01-25

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13: 925135605X

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Assessing or understanding the agriculture innovation system (AIS) is an essential step to better understand the needs, new skills and functions needed by the actors and the system. To accelerate the uptake of innovation and progress towards eradicating poverty, there is an urgent need for well-coordinated, demand-driven, and market-oriented information, knowledge, technologies and services. This document includes a set of information, templates and resources that aim to assist agricultural Innovation systems actors, stakeholders, producers, farmers to develop and share impactful stories. It guides actors and organizations across all sectors in the innovation system to collect and document case studies, success stories, good practices and lessons learned from the project initiatives, trainings and others actions. It highlights scaling-up elements so that other actors can replicate these innovations with a view to scale-up, particularly the stakeholders and actors involved in the DeSira project, through knowledge exchange and sharing.


Book Synopsis Documenting and scaling up knowledge and innovations – Guidelines and templates by : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Download or read book Documenting and scaling up knowledge and innovations – Guidelines and templates written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2022-01-25 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Assessing or understanding the agriculture innovation system (AIS) is an essential step to better understand the needs, new skills and functions needed by the actors and the system. To accelerate the uptake of innovation and progress towards eradicating poverty, there is an urgent need for well-coordinated, demand-driven, and market-oriented information, knowledge, technologies and services. This document includes a set of information, templates and resources that aim to assist agricultural Innovation systems actors, stakeholders, producers, farmers to develop and share impactful stories. It guides actors and organizations across all sectors in the innovation system to collect and document case studies, success stories, good practices and lessons learned from the project initiatives, trainings and others actions. It highlights scaling-up elements so that other actors can replicate these innovations with a view to scale-up, particularly the stakeholders and actors involved in the DeSira project, through knowledge exchange and sharing.

Putting Heads Together

Putting Heads Together

Author: Suzanne Nederlof

Publisher: Kit Pub

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9789460221835

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The agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa badly needs to find new ways of doing things if agricultural development is to contribute to food security and poverty alleviation. This is not only about introducing new technologies to farmers. It is also, even more importantly, about changes in the way old and new technologies, ideas and initiatives are put into practice - as well as how different actors work (together) to stimulate innovation. This book takes a look at platforms that have been set up in order to trigger such change. However, little is known about how innovation platforms actually operate. This book brings together twelve stories from the field about creating and working with innovation platforms in Africa. It is the result of practitioners putting their heads together to analyze their experiences, and to draw lessons from them. This joint analysis provides insights into how innovation platforms (can) work and different options available to them, and also offers suggestions on how to deal with their main common challenges. This publication is written from the perspective of practitioners for practitioners. It provides new information on the performance of innovation platforms in developing countries, offers options to policy makers, and gives inspiration to all actors involved in one way or another in stimulating innovation in the agricultural sector.


Book Synopsis Putting Heads Together by : Suzanne Nederlof

Download or read book Putting Heads Together written by Suzanne Nederlof and published by Kit Pub. This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa badly needs to find new ways of doing things if agricultural development is to contribute to food security and poverty alleviation. This is not only about introducing new technologies to farmers. It is also, even more importantly, about changes in the way old and new technologies, ideas and initiatives are put into practice - as well as how different actors work (together) to stimulate innovation. This book takes a look at platforms that have been set up in order to trigger such change. However, little is known about how innovation platforms actually operate. This book brings together twelve stories from the field about creating and working with innovation platforms in Africa. It is the result of practitioners putting their heads together to analyze their experiences, and to draw lessons from them. This joint analysis provides insights into how innovation platforms (can) work and different options available to them, and also offers suggestions on how to deal with their main common challenges. This publication is written from the perspective of practitioners for practitioners. It provides new information on the performance of innovation platforms in developing countries, offers options to policy makers, and gives inspiration to all actors involved in one way or another in stimulating innovation in the agricultural sector.

Agricultural Innovation Systems

Agricultural Innovation Systems

Author: The World Bank

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2012-02-21

Total Pages: 685

ISBN-13: 0821389440

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Managing the ability of agriculture to meet rising global demand and to respond to the changes and opportunities will require good policy, sustained investments, and innovation - not business as usual. Investments in public Research and Development, extension, education, and their links with one another have elicited high returns and pro-poor growth, but these investments alone will not elicit innovation at the pace or on the scale required by the intensifying and proliferating challenges confronting agriculture. Experience indicates that aside from a strong capacity in Research and Development, the ability to innovate is often related to collective action, coordination, the exchange of knowledge among diverse actors, the incentives and resources available to form partnerships and develop businesses, and conditions that make it possible for farmers or entrepreneurs to use the innovations. While consensus is developing about what is meant by 'innovation' and 'innovation system', no detailed blueprint exists for making agricultural innovation happen at a given time, in a given place, for a given result. The AIS approach that looks at these multiple conditions and relationships that promote innovation in agriculture, has however moved from a concept to a sub-discipline with principles of analysis and action. AIS investments must be specific to the context, responding to the stage of development in a particular country and agricultural sector, especially the AIS. This sourcebook contributes to identifying, designing, and implementing the investments, approaches, and complementary interventions that appear most likely to strengthen AIS and to promote agricultural innovation and equitable growth. It emphasizes the lessons learned, benefits and impacts, implementation issues, and prospects for replicating or expanding successful practices. The information in this sourcebook derives from approaches that have been tested at different scales in different contexts. It reflects the experiences and evolving understanding of numerous individuals and organizations concerned with agricultural innovation, including the World Bank. This information is targeted to the key operational staff in international and regional development agencies and national governments who design and implement lending projects and to the practitioners who design thematic programs and technical assistance packages. The sourcebook can also be an important resource for the research community and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).


Book Synopsis Agricultural Innovation Systems by : The World Bank

Download or read book Agricultural Innovation Systems written by The World Bank and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2012-02-21 with total page 685 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Managing the ability of agriculture to meet rising global demand and to respond to the changes and opportunities will require good policy, sustained investments, and innovation - not business as usual. Investments in public Research and Development, extension, education, and their links with one another have elicited high returns and pro-poor growth, but these investments alone will not elicit innovation at the pace or on the scale required by the intensifying and proliferating challenges confronting agriculture. Experience indicates that aside from a strong capacity in Research and Development, the ability to innovate is often related to collective action, coordination, the exchange of knowledge among diverse actors, the incentives and resources available to form partnerships and develop businesses, and conditions that make it possible for farmers or entrepreneurs to use the innovations. While consensus is developing about what is meant by 'innovation' and 'innovation system', no detailed blueprint exists for making agricultural innovation happen at a given time, in a given place, for a given result. The AIS approach that looks at these multiple conditions and relationships that promote innovation in agriculture, has however moved from a concept to a sub-discipline with principles of analysis and action. AIS investments must be specific to the context, responding to the stage of development in a particular country and agricultural sector, especially the AIS. This sourcebook contributes to identifying, designing, and implementing the investments, approaches, and complementary interventions that appear most likely to strengthen AIS and to promote agricultural innovation and equitable growth. It emphasizes the lessons learned, benefits and impacts, implementation issues, and prospects for replicating or expanding successful practices. The information in this sourcebook derives from approaches that have been tested at different scales in different contexts. It reflects the experiences and evolving understanding of numerous individuals and organizations concerned with agricultural innovation, including the World Bank. This information is targeted to the key operational staff in international and regional development agencies and national governments who design and implement lending projects and to the practitioners who design thematic programs and technical assistance packages. The sourcebook can also be an important resource for the research community and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Training Manual for Organic Agriculture

Training Manual for Organic Agriculture

Author: I. Gomez

Publisher: Scientific Publishers - UBP

Published: 2017-09-01

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13: 9388148932

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The production of this manual is a joint activity between the Climate, Energy and Tenure Division (NRC) and the Technologies and practices for smallholder farmers (TECA) Team from the Research and Extension Division (DDNR) of FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The realization of this manual has been possible thanks to the hard review, compilation and edition work of Nadia Scialabba, Natural Resources officer (NRC) and Ilka Gomez and Lisa Thivant, members of the TECA Team. Special thanks are due to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) for their valuable documents and publications on organic farming for smallholder farmers.


Book Synopsis Training Manual for Organic Agriculture by : I. Gomez

Download or read book Training Manual for Organic Agriculture written by I. Gomez and published by Scientific Publishers - UBP. This book was released on 2017-09-01 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The production of this manual is a joint activity between the Climate, Energy and Tenure Division (NRC) and the Technologies and practices for smallholder farmers (TECA) Team from the Research and Extension Division (DDNR) of FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The realization of this manual has been possible thanks to the hard review, compilation and edition work of Nadia Scialabba, Natural Resources officer (NRC) and Ilka Gomez and Lisa Thivant, members of the TECA Team. Special thanks are due to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) for their valuable documents and publications on organic farming for smallholder farmers.

Learning to make change

Learning to make change

Author: Paul Kibwika

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2023-08-28

Total Pages: 207

ISBN-13: 9086865895

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Universities represent the highest level of education, yet they are notoriously slow in responding to a rapidly changing world. Deeply entrenched elitism and routines, a continued emphasis on reproductive learning, and the continued dominance of disciplinary thinking, have, in many instances, created bastions of educational conservatism, unable to contribute meaningfully to the development of people, businesses and communities within a finite global ecosystem. This book focuses on an African university's efforts to become more innovative and responsive to community needs and the challenges posed by sustainability. A central concept is innovation competence as a pre-requisite for transforming learning, research and consultancy. Making change in society requires innovation competences over and above disciplinary expertise and these competences have to be learnt by both staff and students. Kibwika not only shows that it is imperative that African universities re-orient their programmes to produce graduates capable of enhancing innovation and social change in the community, he also provides a number of solid stepping stones for capacity building and curriculum development that, in time, will result in an innovative university able to contribute to a world that is more sustainable than the one currently in prospect.


Book Synopsis Learning to make change by : Paul Kibwika

Download or read book Learning to make change written by Paul Kibwika and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2023-08-28 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Universities represent the highest level of education, yet they are notoriously slow in responding to a rapidly changing world. Deeply entrenched elitism and routines, a continued emphasis on reproductive learning, and the continued dominance of disciplinary thinking, have, in many instances, created bastions of educational conservatism, unable to contribute meaningfully to the development of people, businesses and communities within a finite global ecosystem. This book focuses on an African university's efforts to become more innovative and responsive to community needs and the challenges posed by sustainability. A central concept is innovation competence as a pre-requisite for transforming learning, research and consultancy. Making change in society requires innovation competences over and above disciplinary expertise and these competences have to be learnt by both staff and students. Kibwika not only shows that it is imperative that African universities re-orient their programmes to produce graduates capable of enhancing innovation and social change in the community, he also provides a number of solid stepping stones for capacity building and curriculum development that, in time, will result in an innovative university able to contribute to a world that is more sustainable than the one currently in prospect.

Innovative markets for sustainable agriculture

Innovative markets for sustainable agriculture

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2018-07-20

Total Pages: 390

ISBN-13: 925109327X

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Between 2013 and 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) undertook a survey of innovative approaches that enable markets to act as incentives in the transition towards sustainable agriculture in developing countries. Through a competitive selection process, 15 cases from around the world provide insights into how small-scale initiatives that use sustainable production practices are supported by market demand, and create innovations in the institutions that govern sustainable practices and market exchanges. These cases respond to both local and distant consumers’ concerns about the quality of the food that they eat. The book evidences that the initiatives rely upon social values (e.g. trustworthiness, health [nutrition and food safety], food sovereignty, promotion of youth and rural development, farmer and community livelihoods) to adapt sustainable practices to local contexts, while creating new market outlets for food products. Specifically, private sector and civil society actors are leading partnerships with the public sector to build market infrastructure, integrate sustainable agriculture into private and public education and extension programmes, and ensure the exchange of transparent information about market opportunities. The results are: (i) system innovations that allow new rules for marketing and assuring the sustainable qualities of products; (ii) new forms of organization that permit actors to play multiple roles in the food system (e.g. farmer and auditor, farmer and researcher, consumer and auditor, consumer and intermediary); (iii) new forms of market exchange, such as box schemes, university kiosks, public procurement or systems of seed exchanges; and (iv) new technologies for sustainable agriculture (e.g. effective micro-organisms, biopesticides and soil analysis techniques). The public sector plays a key role in providing legitimate political and physical spaces for multiple actors to jointly create and share sustainable agricultural knowledge, practices and products.


Book Synopsis Innovative markets for sustainable agriculture by : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Download or read book Innovative markets for sustainable agriculture written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2018-07-20 with total page 390 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Between 2013 and 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) undertook a survey of innovative approaches that enable markets to act as incentives in the transition towards sustainable agriculture in developing countries. Through a competitive selection process, 15 cases from around the world provide insights into how small-scale initiatives that use sustainable production practices are supported by market demand, and create innovations in the institutions that govern sustainable practices and market exchanges. These cases respond to both local and distant consumers’ concerns about the quality of the food that they eat. The book evidences that the initiatives rely upon social values (e.g. trustworthiness, health [nutrition and food safety], food sovereignty, promotion of youth and rural development, farmer and community livelihoods) to adapt sustainable practices to local contexts, while creating new market outlets for food products. Specifically, private sector and civil society actors are leading partnerships with the public sector to build market infrastructure, integrate sustainable agriculture into private and public education and extension programmes, and ensure the exchange of transparent information about market opportunities. The results are: (i) system innovations that allow new rules for marketing and assuring the sustainable qualities of products; (ii) new forms of organization that permit actors to play multiple roles in the food system (e.g. farmer and auditor, farmer and researcher, consumer and auditor, consumer and intermediary); (iii) new forms of market exchange, such as box schemes, university kiosks, public procurement or systems of seed exchanges; and (iv) new technologies for sustainable agriculture (e.g. effective micro-organisms, biopesticides and soil analysis techniques). The public sector plays a key role in providing legitimate political and physical spaces for multiple actors to jointly create and share sustainable agricultural knowledge, practices and products.