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

Abstract

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.

Potential Forage Hybrid Markets for Enhancing Sustainability and Food Security in East Africa

“…Literature, mostly on the Latin American context where the adoption of cultivated forages is more advanced compared to East Africa, shows that it depends on numerous additional factors. These include e.g., risk factors (risk aversion, perception of risks regarding future returns) [66][67][68], knowledge and information about the technology itself (establishment and management processes and costs, benefits and risks associated with the technology) [69-71], labor requirements [72], access to productive inputs and capital (credit) [73][74][75], product differentiation strategies [76], extension and technical assistance [70,[77][78][79][80][81], the knowledge and innovation system [80,82,83], social capital and social networks (e.g., through farmer groups) [84][85][86][87][88][89], land prices, land tenure, land speculation [72,90,91], existing and evolving regulatory frameworks and political/institutional factors [92][93][94], and conflict [95].…”

“…In the case of forages, the experience in the region shows a series of difficulties related to this technological change. The final decision is in the hands of the producers and this in turn depends on various elements [22]. Institutional, logistical, infrastructural, and information factors are important constraints for adoption.…”

“…Marandú), U. decumbens (CIAT-0606, cv. Basilisk), and U. ruziziensis (BR4X-44-2) [32,33]. This research, together with the efforts of the private forage seed sector, allowed the formal release of several forage hybrids: U. hybrid cv.…”

Modelling the reproductive performance of tropical beef herds using long-term experimental grazing data on Urochloa humidicola pastures in the Llanos of Colombia

“…The tactical use of existing longterm data following newer analytical approaches is a relevant procedure to overcome the high cost of large grazing experiments (Tedeschi, 2019;Nizar et al, 2021). This is particularly applicable when the studied production system remains current (Rodríguez-Borray and Cubillos, 2019;Enciso et al, 2022). Climatic conditions at CRC over the selected experimental period were reported previously by Vera and Ramírez-Restrepo (2017).…”

“…Surprisingly, despite the commercial release of new productive and nutritive grass cultivars, breeding herds continue grazing older Urochloa humidicola [Uh; cultivars Tully (CIAT 679) and Llanero (CIAT 6133; syn B. dictyoneura)], and U. decumbens (Ud; syn. Brachiaria decumbens) germplasm, combined with variable areas of native savanna depending upon location, topography, and the proportion of tillable soils in the farm (Romero et al, 2018;Rodríguez-Borray et al, 2019;Enciso et al, 2022). In this context, although the growth of replacement heifers and cows' reproductive performance (RP) in native savannas has been documented for decades (Levine et al, 1980;Stonaker et al, 1984;Rivera, 1988;Vera and Seré, 1985;Pérez et al, 2017), the long-term RP of Brahman (Bos indicus) or Brahman crossbred replacement heifers and cows grazing sown grasses are still poorly quantified.…”