Technological Forecasting and Social Change : 抄録雑誌の概要

Beyond fragmentation and disconnect: Networks for knowledge exchange in the English land management advisory system

This study identifies systemic problems in the New Zealand Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) in relation to the AIS capacity to enact a co-innovation approach, in which all relevant actors in the agricultural sector contribute to combined technological, social and institutional change. Systemic problems are factors that negatively influence the direction and speed of co-innovation and impede the development and functioning of innovation systems. The contribution in the paper is twofold. Firstly, it combines both innovation system functions and systemic problems in an integrated analysis to asses an AIS at a country level, which has not been done previously in AIS literature. Secondly, it deepens the generic literature on structural-functional innovation systems analysis by looking at the interconnectedness between systemic problems and how these create core blocking mechanisms linked to the prevalent institutional logics (historically built-up and persistent structures and institutional arrangements) of the AIS. Results indicate that the existing New Zealand AIS has three main blocking mechanisms related to three institutional logics: (i) competitive science in silos, (ii) laissez faire innovation, and (iii) science centered innovation. These findings resemble weaknesses of AIS in other countries, and provide supportive evidence that co-innovation principles in many places have not yet been translated into agricultural innovation policies due to persistent and interlocked blocking mechanism and institutional logics. They point to the absence of effective systemic innovation policy instruments that pro-actively stimulate and support co-innovation. These instruments facilitate the counteracting of individual systemic problems and have a more transformative ambition; tackling the key institutional logics that hinder co-innovation, and hence supporting ‘structural system innovation’.

Systemic problems affecting co-innovation in the New Zealand Agricultural Innovation System: Identification of blocking mechanisms and underlying institutional logics

Advisory service provisioning on sustainability issues such as environmental care and food safety is considered suboptimal in privatized extension systems, which comprise a diverse set of private advisors. Apart from funding dedicated ‘public good’ projects, government also relies on these advisors to address sustainability issues in their regular service contacts with farmers. Policy measures have hence been proposed to stimulate farmer demand for such sustainable farm management (SFM) advice (pull measures) and to build capacity among advisors (push measures). This paper assesses two interventions, in nutrient management and mastitis prevention, that integrate pull measures (awareness building and economic incentives) and push measures (promoting facilitative advisory styles and optimizing knowledge system linkages) to stimulate advisory service provisioning on SFM. Results indicate that effectiveness appears to depend on an adequate mix of, and balance between, push and pull measures. Awareness buildin...

Building knowledge systems for sustainable agriculture: supporting private advisors to adequately address sustainable farm management in regular service contacts

Our findings provide insight into Dutch dairy farmers’ behavior and mindset toward mastitis management, and into the way these can be affected by communication strategies. They may differ from those of North American dairy farmers, but probably many findings are comparable. Elements of farmer mindset are important determining factors in mastitis control, including the perceived threat (ie, “Do I have a problem?”) and the perceived efficacy of mastitis management measures (ie, “Can I solve the problem easily?”). These issues need to be addressed in communication strategies. Veterinarians can be important intermediaries in communication about udder health, provided that they are aware of their role as proactive advisor and apply the accompanying communication skills. To be effective, a mastitis control program should do more than distributing technical information about best management practices to dairy farmers. Prevention of complex diseases such as mastitis requires customized communication strategies as well as an integrated approach between various stakeholders and different scientific disciplines. Because farmers are part of, and are influenced by a wide institutional context, such programs need to be supported by a combination of several policy measures to change farm management in the long run.

https://www.vetfood.theclinics.com/article/S0749-0720(12)00020-5/pdf

The role of communication in improving udder health

The aim of this study was to understand the role that agricultural consultants in New Zealand were undertaking in the Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) system—and in particular in relation to environmental extension. New Zealand does not have a public extension service and hence there is a strong reliance on consultants and regional councils for environmental management information and advice. As they are independent of the formal RD&E system there is no guarantee that RD&E outcomes are reaching farmers, nor that effective environmental extension is occurring. The study used a combination of case studies, phone interviews with informed persons and a national web survey to explore the role of the consultant. The study found that agricultural consultants are playing an important role in working with farmers to improve agricultural production. There are, however, indications that gaps have developed over time between agricultural consultants and the agricultural research sector which limit ...

The Role of Agricultural Consultants in New Zealand in Environmental Extension

This paper discusses the findings from a pilot study of New Zealand agricultural consultants aiming to describe the role of agricultural consultancy within the New Zealand RD&E system with specific reference to their role in environmental management. The study comprised a literature review, interviews with informed persons and case studies. Agricultural consultants generally operate chiefly in the area of farm economics and management, but their positioning makes them well-placed for impacting positively on environmental management on farms. They assist producer decision-making by providing industry intelligence, up-to-date information and analysis of options. Consultants fulfil the role of knowledge broker reasonably effectively, but some were out of the direct RD&E loop.

The Role of Agricultural Consultants in the New Zealand Research, Development and Extension System

Agriculture is the foundation of the Manawatu/Wanganui region’s economy, which consists of 300,000 ha of highly erodible land. Past land management practices caused a major threat to the long-term sustainability of the region. Horizons Regional Council introduced Whole Farm Plans (WFP) as part of a variety of tools to protect and conserve the land. This paper discusses the progressive findings of a study about farmers’ WFP adoption decisions. Following Gladwin’s (1989) ethnographic decision tree modeling (EDTM) approach, qualitative interviews were held with a sample of 15 WFP adopters and 14 non-adopters across the Region to develop the adoption decision tree. Key findings were that hill country farmers’ decision to develop, or not develop, a WFP was based on six fundamental criteria: (1) their awareness and concern of the issues of soil erosion and water quality and/or siltation of rivers and streams in the region and/or their farm; (2) the degree to which retiring land on their farm by fencing and tree planting would help solve the issue; (3) the degree to which the current status and level of development of the farm still allowed for further fencing and/or tree planting; (4) perceived benefit of the plan; (5) consideration of the enabling/disabling factors, which included the willingness to invest time, effort, and capital in the development and implementation of the plan.

Hein Roth

Papers

The Role of Agricultural Consultants in New Zealand in Environmental Extension

The Role of Agricultural Consultants in the New Zealand Research, Development and Extension System

Using Ethnographic Decision Tree Modelling to Explore Farmers’ Decision-making Processes: a Case Study

The Role of Agricultural Consultants in the New Zealand Research, Development and Extension System

Using Ethnographic Decision Tree Modelling to Explore Farmers’ Decision-making Processes: a Case Study