Abstract
BackgroundThe idea that knowledge flows through social networks is implicit in research on traditional knowledge, but researchers have paid scant attention to the role of social networks in shaping its distribution. We bridge those two bodies of research and investigate a) the structure of network of exchange of plant propagation material (germplasm) and b) the relation between a person’s centrality in such network and his/her agroecological knowledge.MethodsWe study 10 networks of germplasm exchange (n = 363) in mountain regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and a survey.ResultsThe networks display some structural characteristics (i.e., decentralization, presence of external actors) that could enhance the flow of knowledge and germplasm but also some characteristics that do not favor such flow (i.e., low density and fragmentation). We also find that a measure that captures the number of contacts of an individual in the germplasm exchange network is associated with the person’s agroecological knowledge.ConclusionOur findings highlight the importance of social relations in the construction of traditional knowledge.
Highlights
The idea that knowledge flows through social networks is implicit in research on traditional knowledge, but researchers have paid scant attention to the role of social networks in shaping its distribution
Our study focuses on networks of exchange of plant propagation material, mainly seeds, and seedlings, bulbs, tubers, cuttings, suckers
As other type of information, traditional ecological knowledge is embedded in social networks and may only be apparent in the context of relations and interactions
Summary
The idea that knowledge flows through social networks is implicit in research on traditional knowledge, but researchers have paid scant attention to the role of social networks in shaping its distribution. We bridge those two bodies of research and investigate a) the structure of network of exchange of plant propagation material (germplasm) and b) the relation between a person’s centrality in such network and his/her agroecological knowledge. Researchers have found that age, sex, education, kinship, place of residency, Researchers have based the systematic analysis of the pathways through which traditional ecological knowledge is transmitted on the seminal work of Cavalli-Sforza and colleagues [11]. Recent research shows that the influence of each pathway changes across a person’s lifecycle [15]
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