Abstract
The expectation that agricultural advisors will facilitate Interactive Innovation is accompanied by novel expectations for their competency profile. In addition to their traditional technical basis, advisors are now expected to organise multi-actor processes, facilitate learning, mediate conflict, etc. Innovation support services are inherently diverse. To date, no precise list of competencies required by agricultural advisors to support Interactive Innovation has been defined. To form the basis for a competency profile, we examine the competencies currently being expected from an agricultural advisor. This suggested profile, developed in the context of the H2020 i2connect project, is based on a literature review, semi-structured interviews with co-creation experts, and an online validation workshop. We explore five themes: (a) basic disposition and attitude, (b) content competence, (c) methodological competence, (d) organisational competence, and (e) reflection, learning, and personal development. In practice, the profile can be used as either a tool for setting up co-creation processes or as the foundation for the development of new training materials. We conclude with a recommendation to create teams of advisors rather than relying on individuals, as a team is more likely to comprise the diversity of required competencies.
Highlights
Worldwide, the agricultural sector is being confronted with challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, and food security
Based upon the qualitative research resulting from the EU-funded i2connect project, we present a competency profile for the innovation advisor
The interviews differed from the literature, mainly by placing a greater emphasis on competencies belonging to the theme
Summary
The agricultural sector is being confronted with challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, and food security. Innovations at the level of products, processes, and society are being sought in order to meet these challenges while addressing the needs as well as the possibilities of a range of agricultural companies. Agricultural advisory (extension) services provide support to farmers to help them find farm-level solutions for specific problems. A wide array of market and non-market entities that provide flows of information in agricultural sectors worldwide and agricultural advisory services are an important link [4]. Advisors can be self-employed, public, or private sector employees. Regardless of their employment status, they can identify as technical experts, agents of the state, representatives of agri-businesses, change agents, etc.
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