Knowledge management for innovation in agri-food systems: a conceptual framework

Abstract

Knowledge is a critical enabling factor for healthy agri-food innovation systems (AIS). AIS and related knowledge management (KM) frameworks face significant implementation challenges. We review applications of KM to AIS, the current state of the art and shortcomings and present a new KM framework, Agricultural Knowledge Management for Innovation (AKM4I). Previous agricultural KM frameworks do not integrate innovation pragmatically, use linear, reductionist, top-down pathways to innovation, and do not explicitly incorporate issues of power, politics, ownership, and trust when combining scientific and local knowledge across multiple stakeholders. The AKM4I framework addresses systemic interactions favouring innovation outcomes by formalising flows and management of information and knowledge between diverse sets of stakeholders; and explicitly considering previously unresolved practical and relational barriers aiming to facilitate more equitable, rapidly evolving, and actionable knowledge generation and management for innovation and transformational change. An agricultural case study serves as an example of the implementation of AKM4I.

One CGIAR and the Integrated Agri-food Systems Initiative: From short-termism to transformation of the world’s food systems

“…Development of the IASI methodology was guided by the notion that agri-food system transformations depend on multi-scale, dynamic interplay among actors with different forms of power [36,37]. Understanding the variety of these interactions and processes, and their implications for governance, is critical for brokering broad stakeholder agreement on national policy and investment priorities [37], and for building upon on-the-ground experience with Agricultural Knowledge Management for Innovation [38].…”

“…These 'hubs' feature research platforms, demonstration modules, and extension areas where sustainable farming practices and technologies are tested, improved, and adapted with community participation [44,45]. This infrastructure provides a foundation for continuous scaling and enables timely regionalized impact assessments [38]. In Colombia, a hub network is being initiated, which will be critical to realizing the MpCo strategies.…”

“…While techniques for interactive, scenario-assisted, multi-objective development planning are not new [50][51][52][53][54], they have infrequently led to significant agri-food system change [31]. Challenges range from reductionist knowledge management systems [38], narrowly scoped outcome metrics [55,56] or technological feasibility analysis [47], poorly defined validation processes [43], and sparse attention to competing interests and policy incentives [14,32] to a lack of stakeholder engagement in scenario building [30] and tradeoff analysis [57,58] and weak governance and investment capacity [24].…”

Disaggregating the Value of Conservation Agriculture to Inform Smallholder Transition to Sustainable Farming: A Mexican Case Study

“…CA in the region has been variously supported under the MasAgro research initiative, supported by the Government of Mexico and coordinated by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) [44,45]. The initiative seeks to increase farmer income and the productivity of maize and wheat in Mexico by implementing research collaborations, as well as by developing and promoting the use of improved seeds, sustainable technologies, and farming practices [46][47][48].…”

Permanent Bed Width Has Little Effect on Crop Yield under Rainfed and Irrigated Conditions across Central Mexico

“…This has led to doubts among farmers, farm advisors, and scientists on how to best implement permanent beds. Therefore, treatments comparing narrow and wide permanent beds have been included in many of the field trials across Mexico by collaborators in the agri-food innovation system coordinated by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) [16,19]. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of permanent bed width on the yield of maize and small grain cereals under different environmental conditions and soil types in central Mexico by analyzing the results of these adaptive trials.…”