Transdisciplinary weed research: new leverage on challenging weed problems?

Abstract

Transdisciplinary weed research (TWR) is a promising path to more effective management of challenging weed problems. We define TWR as an integrated process of inquiry and action that addresses complex weed problems in the context of broader efforts to improve economic, environmental and social aspects of ecosystem sustainability. TWR seeks to integrate scholarly and practical knowledge across many stakeholder groups (e.g. scientists, private sector, farmers and extension officers) and levels (e.g. local, regional and landscape). Furthermore, TWR features democratic and iterative processes of decision-making and collective action that aims to align the interests, viewpoints and agendas of a wide range of stakeholders. The fundamental rationale for TWR is that many challenging weed problems (e.g. herbicide resistance or extensive plant invasions in natural areas) are better addressed systemically, as a part of broad-based efforts to advance ecosystem sustainability, rather than as isolated problems. Addressing challenging weed problems systemically can offer important new leverage on such problems, by creating new opportunities to manage their root causes and by improving complementarity between weed management and other activities. While promising, this approach is complicated by the multi-dimensional, multilevel, diversely defined and unpredictable nature of ecosystem sustainability. In practice, TWR can be undertaken as a cyclic process of (i) initial problem formulation, (ii) 'broadening' of the problem formulation and recruitment of stakeholder participants, (iii) deliberation, negotiation and design of an action agenda for systemic change, (iv) implementation action, (v) monitoring and assessment of outcomes and (vi) reformulation of the problem situation and renegotiation of further actions. Notably, 'purposive' disciplines (design, humanities and arts) have central, critical and recurrent roles in this process, as do integrative analyses of relevant multidi-mensional and multilevel factors, via multiple natural and social science disciplines. We exemplify this process in prospect and retrospect. Importantly TWR is not a replacement for current weed research; rather, the intent is to powerfully leverage current efforts.

Modelling crop-weed competition: Why, what, how and what lies ahead?

“…It may often to be useful to build complementary models that focus on specific aims, and link these models as appropriate, rather than trying to put all the biological details into one 'supermodel' (Renton, 2011b;Holzworth et al, 2014;Lawes and Renton, 2015). Adoption is a major challenge for weed management, and models can play a role in facilitating uptake of new practices and technologies, but only if they are welldesigned and well-used as part of a participatory and transdisciplinary approach (Kragt and Llewellyn, 2014;Powles, 2015, 2016;Jordan et al, 2016;Liebman et al, 2016). Furthermore, the usefulness of models depend on the breadth, depth, quality, precision and accuracy of the data used to calibrate them, and, if process-based, on the degree of understanding of the underlying mechanisms (Haefner, 2005).…”

Ecology of Weeds of Garlic Crop at Botanical Garden, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

“…Our results are in line with work of Akhtar and Hussain, 2007, Waheed et al, 2009. Gaba et al, 2014, Leibman et al, 2016, Jordan et al, 2016and Gibson et al, 2017 More than necessary crop species, these weedy species gain benefit as they grow and reproduce rapidly or due to persistent seeds they possess short life durations with several generations in the similar growing period. The weeds usually repeat the life cycle through seeds.…”

Reviewing research priorities in weed ecology, evolution and management: a horizon scan

“…The two top ‐ ranked questions (and two others) placed a strong emphasis on the need for broadening research horizons, such that multistakeholder approaches to tackle weed problems and their management are fostered. Within these transdisciplinary frameworks (Lang et al ., ; Jordan et al ., ), weed ecologists, weed scientists, land managers, farmers, economists and social scientists should work together with agricultural, industrial and governmental stakeholders with an interest in tackling intractable weed problems (Graham, ; Ervin & Jussaume, ). Narrow framing of weed problems is less likely to engage the full range of stakeholders needed to devise and implement innovative solutions, and weed research must be considered in the context of wider efforts towards the design of sustainable farming systems.…”