Organic farming is recognized as one source for innovation helping agriculture to develop sustainably. However, the understanding of innovation in agriculture is characterized by technical optimism, relying mainly on new inputs and technologies originating from research. The paper uses the alternative framework of innovation systems describing innovation as the outcome of stakeholder interaction and examples from the SOLID (Sustainable Organic Low-Input Dairying) project to discuss the role of farmers, researchers and knowledge exchange for innovation.
The creative process that leads to farmers’ innovations is rarely studied or described precisely in agricultural sciences. For academic scientists, obvious limitations of farmers’ experiments are e.g. precision, reliability, robustness, accuracy, validity or the correct analysis of cause and effect. Nevertheless, we propose that ‘farmers’ experiments’ underpin innovations that keep organic farming locally tuned for sustainability and adaptable to changing economic, social and ecological conditions.
This is the proceedings of the international conference ‘Innovations in Organic Food System for Sustainable Production and Enhanced Ecosystem Services’. The proceedings are a compilation of peer-reviewed articles based on presentations of 18 speakers invited conference speakers and published as a Special Issue of the scientific journal ‘Sustainable Agriculture Research’ by the Canadian Centre of Science and Education.
Farmers’ experiments can be defined as the autonomous activities of farmers to try or introduce something new at the farm, and include evaluation of success or failure with farmers’ own methods. Experiments enable farmers to adapt their farms to changing circumstances, build up local knowledge, and have resulted in countless agricultural innovations. Most research on the topic has been conducted in countries of the south.
This article starts by describing the evolution of innovation in agricultural research and cooperation for development, including an historical overview of agricultural research for development from green revolution to the re-discover of traditional knowledge. Then the authors analyze participation in innovation processes and make a comparison of innovation systems and platforms targeting the agri-food sector in developing countries. A particular focus is reserved to the European regional networks and to the experience of the USAID Middle East Water and Livelihoods Initiative.
This paper aims to analyze the innovative effort of the agri-food system (AFS) in the Valencian Autonomous Community (VC), Spain, estimating the intensity of innovation in each subsector of the AFS. The analysis distinguishes between the direct and indirect (or induced) innovation intensities incorporated by the acquisition of inputs from other subsectors produced in the VC or in the rest of Spain. The methodology employed is based on the inputoutput framework combined with data of technological innovation in enterprises.
El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el Cluster de Frutas Dulces de Lleida-Huesca y los elementos que intervienen en las interrelaciones entre los grupos de interés (stakeholders). Se realizaron entrevistas a expertos y encuestas a procesadoras, cuya información ha permitido caracterizar el cluster y las empresas, así como los elementos que determinan la Calidad de la Relación entre dichas empresas y grupos.
As part of the EU funded AgriSpin project (www.agrispin.eu), which aimed at “creating space for innovations” in agriculture across Europe, this contribution addresses the above mentioned knowledge gaps by a. elaborating a generic typology appropriate to capture the variety of ISS, b. structuring selected innovations along the degree of technological change and coordination levels, and c.
La agricultura intensiva mediterránea ha desarrollado en el último tercio del siglo XX importantes concentraciones territoriales de la actividad productiva de frutas y hortalizas en áreas determinadas del litoral español. Las ubicaciones de estos sistemas productivos de origen agrícola responden a una mezcla de condiciones naturales, históricas, económicas e institucionales.En este artículo se analizan los componentes de este cluster agroindustrial y su comportamiento evolutivo, para finalmente concluir si esta aglomeración productiva reúne los requisitos de un distrito industrial
Este artículo trata el problema de los varios tipos de acciones y políticas que se pueden definir como “innovaciones estructurales” en los sistemas nacionales de innovación, prestando especial atención al caso de la transformación de las interacciones entre el sector de la ciencia pública y la industria privada. El estudio se centra en la aparición y difusión de organizaciones que definen un entorno más estable y formalizado para la colaboración y la transferencia de conocimiento entre ciencia y empresa, como los centros de investigación colaborativa (CIC).