Triggering system innovation in agricultural innovation systems: Initial insights from a community for change in New Zealand

Abstract

This article describes a process for stimulating engagement among change agents to develop a shared understanding of systemic problems in the agricultural innovation system (AIS), challenge prevalent institutional logics and identify actions they might undertake to stimulate system innovation. The process included (i) multiple actors from the AIS, (ii) reflexivity regarding underlying institutional logics, (iii) an iterative process of practical experimentation to challenge current practices and (iv) actions to encourage generative collaboration. Problem structuring supported change agents' development of a shared understanding of systemic problems and the role that interrelationships, perspectives and boundaries play in reinforcing or destabilizing current practices and institutional logics. Involving multiple actors from the AIS in challenging underlying institutional logics and encouraging collaboration appeared to stimulate project-level actions and recognition of wider AIS barriers. Collective system analyses for addressing structural changes, including the potential for system innovation, were beneficial. Simultaneously resolving innovation project actions with AIS actions remains a challenge.

Emerging Stakeholder Relations in Participatory ICT Design: Renegotiating the Boundaries of Sociotechnical Innovation in Forest Biosecurity Surveillance

“…From the outset, we wanted to think about project design-how that can be influenced by the rhetoric of project development and cultural context-including how 'designers' (the researchers and stakeholders drawn into the design process) influence project framing [23]. It was also our intention to introduce a method for considering a more dynamic environment of STS change and transition [68] in response to the emergent nature of stakeholder relationships. There is a need to be responsive to the existing needs of stakeholders and potential technology users within the existing system as well as attend to the need for developing a community of users that gain benefit from their interactions as part of the emerging surveillance network.…”

Transition heuristic frameworks in research on agro-food sustainability transitions

“…Case study Country Long et al (2016) Climate-smart agriculture Multi-country (The Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Italy) Pant (2014) Food security strategies Multi-country (Nepal, India) Prasad (2016) System of Rice Intensification (SRI) India Randelli and Rocchi (2017) Food industry Italy Sixt et al (2018) Rainfed agriculture Jordan Turner et al (2017) Community for change in agriculture New Zealand Van Mierlo et al (2013) Poultry The Netherlands farmers). While Long et al (2016) focused on the diffusion of technological innovations (see CSA), Pant (2014) criticised the focus on technological innovation in food security strategies.…”

“…They show that the main interlocking blocking mechanisms in the water harvesting TIS are related to financing, planning and institutional structure, and highlight the need for integrated policy interventions to address them. Turner et al (2017) explored a multi-actor, iterative and reflexive process to develop a common understanding of problems hampering system innovation in an agricultural innovation system (AIS) in New Zealand. The process fostered engagement among actors and led them to identify actions to stimulate system innovation and challenge dominant practices and institutional logics.…”

Are we Foot and Mouth Disease ready?

“…The AIS approach has been used historically in developing countries to enhance information sharing and problem solving at local levels. AIS can bring systems change by creating space for shared perspective and the co-creation of solutions by multiple stakeholders [Coutts et al, 2017;Turner et al, 2017]. By adopting a participatory approach to communication between stakeholders, learning becomes a collective activity [Metcalfe, 2019].…”