The tricot citizen science approach applied to on-farm variety evaluation: methodological progress and perspectives

Etten, Jacob van; Abidin, Emilia Zainal; Arnaud, Elizabeth; Brown, Danielle Bairrington; Carey, Ellen; Laporte, M-A.; Noriega, Isabel López; Madriz, Brandon; Manners, Rhys; Ortiz-Crespo, Berta; Quirós, Carlos F.; Sousa, Kauê de; Teeken, Béla; Tufan, Hale; Ulzen, Jacob; Valle-Soto, J. F.

doi:10.4160/23096586rtbwp20212

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The varieties were developed using feedback from cassava end users including participatory processing 21 and Tricot on-farm testing. 22…”

Section: Trials Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and environmental effects on processing productivity and food product yield: drudgery of women's work

Bello,

Agbona,

Olaosebikan

et al. 2024

J Sci Food Agric

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BackgroundCassava processing is a crucial source of livelihood for rural farmers and processors in Nigeria and Cameroon. This study investigated the varietal effect on the processing productivity of women farmer processors within their working environment and compared this to the field yield and the food product quality as evaluated by the processors. Field trials were established in Nigeria (Benue and Osun state) and Cameroon (Littoral zone). Eight cassava genotypes, including improved, regional, and processors' preferred checks were evaluated. Roots of these genotypes were harvested, and processed into gari and eba by processors with the time of each processing step recorded. Through pairwise ranking processors assessed the quality of the roots and food products.ResultsSuperior field performance of improved genotypes was observed over checks in Cameroon and Nigeria (Benue state) for dry matter content and fresh and dry yield. During processing, genotypes showed significant variation for most assessed parameters in both countries, with some improved varieties exhibiting lower productivity that can make them more prone to drudgery experienced by the processors than local checks. Improved varieties were ranked higher or equal to processors' preferred checks concerning fresh root and food product quality.ConclusionsA varietal effect was observed on yield, product quality, processing productivity, and potential drudgery levels. Although some breeders' germplasm combined increased yields and good food product quality, those with low processor productivity should be avoided during selection. Further research is recommended to enhance color, latent culinary qualities, and processing productivity of improved varieties to improve acceptability and reduce processing drudgery for women.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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“…The varieties were developed using feedback from cassava end users including participatory processing 21 and Tricot on-farm testing. 22…”

Section: Trials Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and environmental effects on processing productivity and food product yield: drudgery of women's work

Bello,

Agbona,

Olaosebikan

et al. 2024

J Sci Food Agric

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“…The PL, having read about the triadic comparison of technologies (“tricot”) approach to on-farm trials ( van Etten et al, 2019 ), worked with the gender researcher and other members of the breeding team to develop a revised trial protocol. Building on previous experiences in participatory variety selection, the tricot approach engages a large number of “citizen scientists” to evaluate technologies under representative crop management conditions chosen by the farmer, using incomplete blocks of three varieties, with digital support throughout the process ( van Etten et al, 2020 ). This approach minimizes researcher control, allows farmers with limited land to participate, and enables participants to test technologies on land they know well and make observations throughout the season.…”

Section: Details: Seed Production Technology For Africa Projectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative approaches to integrating gender into conventional maize breeding: lessons from the Seed Production Technology for Africa project

Voss,

Cairns,

Olsen

et al. 2023

Front. Sociol.

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The integration of gender concerns in crop breeding programs aims to improve the suitability and appeal of new varieties to both women and men, in response to concerns about unequal adoption of improved seed. However, few conventional breeding programs have sought to center social inclusion concerns. This community case study documents efforts to integrate gender into the maize-focused Seed Production Technology for Africa (SPTA) project using innovation history analysis drawing on project documents and the authors’ experiences. These efforts included deliberate exploration of potential gendered impacts of project technologies and innovations in the project’s approach to variety evaluation, culminating in the use of decentralized on-farm trials using the tricot approach. Through this case study, we illustrate the power of active and respectful collaborations between breeders and social scientists, spurred by donor mandates to address gender and social inclusion. Gender integration in this case was further facilitated by open-minded project leaders and allocation of funding for gender research. SPTA proved to be fertile ground for experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration around gender and maize breeding, and has provided proof of concept for larger breeding projects seeking to integrate gender considerations.

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“…Several studies have proposed using environmental covariates to account for genotype × environment interaction in the analysis of multienvironment trials (Piepho et al, 1998;van Eeuwijk et al, 1996). Predictions of genotype performance at new locations are less common, but recent studies have demonstrated its feasibility (Buntaran et al, 2021;van Etten, de Sousa, et al, 2019).…”

Section: Predictions Of Genotype Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of rankings implies an inherent loss of information when compared to measurements in a continuous scale using specialized instruments (Coe, 2002). However, collecting data in ranking format allows the participation of a larger number of farmers and a reduction in the costs of the experiments compared with other participatory methods (Coe, 2002;van Etten et al, 2020). Since the data are in ranking format, it should be analyzed with an appropriate statistical model such as the Plackett-Luce model (Luce, 1959;Plackett, 1975).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rank‐based data synthesis of common bean on‐farm trials across four Central American countries

et al. 2022

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Location‐specific information is required to support decision making in crop variety management, especially under increasingly challenging climate conditions. Data synthesis can aggregate data from individual trials to produce information that supports decision making in plant breeding programs, extension services, and of farmers. Data from on‐farm trials using the novel approach of triadic comparison of technologies (tricot) are increasingly available, from which more insights could be gained using a data synthesis approach. The objective of our study was to present the applicability of a rank‐based data synthesis approach to several datasets from tricot trials to generate location‐specific information supporting decision making in crop variety management. Our study focuses on tricot data from 14 trials of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) performed between 2015 and 2018 across four countries in Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua). The combined data of 17 common bean genotypes were rank aggregated and analyzed with the Plackett–Luce model. Model‐based recursive partitioning was used to assess the influence of spatially explicit environmental covariates on the performance of common bean genotypes. Location‐specific performance was predicted for the three main growing seasons in Central America. We demonstrate how the rank‐based data synthesis methodology allows integrating tricot trial data from heterogenous sources to provide location‐specific information to support decision making in crop variety management. Maps of genotype performance can support decision making in crop variety evaluation such as variety recommendations to farmers and variety release processes.

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The tricot citizen science approach applied to on-farm variety evaluation: methodological progress and perspectives

Cited by 8 publications

References 36 publications

Genetic and environmental effects on processing productivity and food product yield: drudgery of women's work

Genetic and environmental effects on processing productivity and food product yield: drudgery of women's work

Innovative approaches to integrating gender into conventional maize breeding: lessons from the Seed Production Technology for Africa project

Rank‐based data synthesis of common bean on‐farm trials across four Central American countries

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