Activating agricultural transitions to sustainability through participatory research and co-innovation. Stories of change across Africa, Asia and Latin America from de the DeSIRA initiative

This book presents a collection of Stories of Change from the DeSIRA Initiative—an EU-funded portfolio of over 80 research and innovation (R&I) projects across 65+ countries. It explores how research contributes to agricultural innovation systems (AIS), not just through results, but by changing the way innovation is supported, governed, and scaled.

Developed through a participatory process and supported by the DeSIRA-LIFT facility, these stories highlight the role of research as a connector, facilitator, and learner within complex ecosystems of change. They offer valuable insights into processes, partnerships, and capacities that enable sustainable, inclusive agrifood systems transformation.

This first volume focuses on changes in how research drives innovation. A second volume covers concrete innovations and their impacts on agrifood systems.