Agricultural Innovation Systems Research Articles

Clustering countries of the world according to their business practices in agriculture

The study aims to cluster countries worldwide by business practices in the agrosector to reveal trends and specifics in applying sustainable methods in agrobusiness management. The analysis covers 26 countries from the OECD database as of 2021. The Word and k-means clustering methods are based on General Services Support Estimate indicators from the OECD: share of agricultural knowledge and innovation system, share of inspection and control, share of development and maintenance of infrastructure, share of cost of public stockholding, which has a determining, statistically significant influence on the formation of clusters. The first cluster included three Asian countries; China is the leader (share of agricultural knowledge and innovation system – 6,529.7 million USD, share of inspection and control – 3177.9 million USD, share of development and maintenance of infrastructure – 12,874.7 million USD, share of cost of public stockholding – 14,668.5 million USD). The second cluster comprised six countries, with the USA as the leader (share of agricultural knowledge and innovation system – 2,908.4 million USD, share of inspection and control – 1,298.0 million USD, share of development and maintenance of infrastructure – 2,392.5 million USD). The third cluster has 17 countries, with Canada being singled out (share of inspection and control – 631.8 million USD and share of agricultural knowledge and innovation system – 683.1 million USD). The results indicate the diversity of countries’ approaches to support and develop their agrosector. Advanced Asian countries and the US invest significant resources in innovation, infrastructure development, and quality control, underscoring their commitment to food security, efficiency, and sustainability.

Reducing food loss through sustainable business models and agricultural innovation systems

Purpose This study aims to explore how sustainable business models (SBM) can be developed within agri-innovation systems (AIS) and emphasize an integration of the two with a systemic understanding for reducing food loss and value loss in postharvest agri-food supply chain. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted longitudinal qualitative research in a developing country with food loss challenges in the postharvest supply chain. This study collected data through multiple rounds of fieldwork, interviews and focus groups over four years. Thematic analysis and “sensemaking” were used for inductive data analysis to generate rich contextual knowledge by drawing upon the lived realities of the agri-food supply chain actors. Findings First, this study finds that the value losses are varied in the supply chain, encompassing production value, intrinsic value, extrinsic value, market value, institutional value and future food value. This happens through two cumulative effects including multiplier losses, where losses in one model cascade into others, amplifying their impact and stacking losses, where the absence of data stacks or infrastructure pools hampers the realisation of food value. Thereafter, this study proposes four strategies for moving from the loss-incurring current business model to a networked SBM for mitigating losses. This emphasises the need to redefine ownership as stewardship, enable formal and informal beneficiary identification, strengthen value addition and build capacities for empowering communities to benefit from networked SBM with AIS initiatives. Finally, this study puts forth ten propositions for future research in aligning AIS with networked SBM. Originality/value This study contributes to understanding the interplay between AIS and SBM; emphasising the integration of the two to effectively address food loss challenges in the early stages of agri-food supply chains. The identified strategies and research propositions provide implications for researchers and practitioners seeking to accelerate sustainable practices for reducing food loss and waste in agri-food supply chains.

Knowledge-implementation processes in crop protection literature

ABSTRACT Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how new research on crop protection practices is communicated to end-users by investigating which knowledge-implementation processes are recommended in crop protection literature. Design/methodology/approach This analysis is completed through a qualitative systematic review of literature on knowledge-implementation in crop protection where six knowledge-implementation processes are identified from 65 articles: information and communication technologies (ICT), management models and approaches, education platforms and events, advisory and extension services, networks, and collaborative approaches. We place special emphasis on the gaps and trends around networks and collaborative processes, building on communication theory research. Findings While many articles discussed multiple knowledge-implementation processes, it was found that most of the processes discussed aligned with a transmission communication model and the traditional agricultural knowledge and innovation system. While 11 articles described networks and 22 articles described collaborative processes in line with a constitutive model of communication, these tended to provide limited advice on how these processes could be achieved in practice, identifying a need for further investigation of how multilateral communication can be used to better crop protection practice. Practical Implications These findings can help facilitate better communication between researchers and farmers, promoting processes that include farmers and other actors as sources of knowledge and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of crop protection practices. Theoretical implications This study enhances the understanding of knowledge-implementation in agriculture, emphasizing the need to draw on multiple forms of communication to address the knowledge-to-action gap. Originality/Value There is limited research that examines the knowledge-to-action gap in agriculture, particularly in relation to crop-protection practices. As a review study, this manuscript provides an overview of how this topic is described in the field.

National Agricultural Innovation System (NAIS): Diagnosis, Gaps, and Mapping of Actors

This article examines the diagnosis of the Agricultural Innovation System (SIA) in the department of Tolima, Colombia, as part of a project led by the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Technological University of Pereira (TUP), which also evaluated the National Agricultural Innovation System (NAIS) in regions such as Chocó, Bolívar, and Meta. A methodology was used that involved a survey with 58 questions on a Likert scale with 300 participants, evaluated with congruence and relevance indexes, identifying key variables in the operation of the Agricultural Innovation System (AIS). A survey was applied to map actors in the National Innovation System for Higher Education in Agriculture, as well as the participating actors in the regional agricultural innovation systems of Tolima to identify gaps in extension, innovation, development, sustainability, information technology (TI), education, and training. Among the conclusions, it stands out that the associativity subsystem presents the lowest performance and is close to a score of two on the scale of gaps. An evaluation was carried out among the five subsystems, including extension, TI, environmental aspects, and public policy. The department of Tolima shows low performance in innovation and TI, while their extension performance is less weak. In Chaparral, there is a general lag, with innovation being the worst evaluated subsystem. Rovira obtains high scores in most subsystems, although innovation and TI have lower scores. At the national and regional levels, innovation is low, and communication among the NARS actors is insufficient, which highlights the need to promote good practices, strategies, and projects.

Advancing agriculture extension models in Africa: bridging the gap for effective delivery of technologies and innovations

Agriculture in Africa is undergoing transformative shifts, driven by the need for sustainable food production, increased productivity, and resilience to challenges such as climate change. This paper explores the current state of agriculture extension models in Africa and their role in delivering technologies and innovations to target beneficiaries and other stakeholders in agricultural innovation systems. We delve into key challenges, promising approaches, and recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of extension services in the dynamic agricultural landscapes of Africa. The paper showcases innovative extension models by Sasakawa Africa Association that have made a significant impact. These include Farmer Learning Platforms (FLPs) model, Private and Extension Service Provision (PESP), The Agro-Processing Enterprise Center (APEC) Model, Community-Based Seed Multiplication (CBSM) model, private and extension service provision Model (PESP), and the community savings for investment in Agribusiness (CSIA) model. The Sasakawa Africa Fund for Education (SAFE) Demand Driven Curriculum (SDDC) model is also highlighted. These examples highlight the importance of context-specific approaches and the role of extension in empowering farmers to embrace sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. By addressing key challenges and leveraging opportunities, this paper aims to contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture in Africa. Key words: Agriculture extension models, Technology Adoption, participatory approaches, Innovation, Sustainable Development

All for One and One for All: Dissecting PREMIERE’s Inclusive AKIS Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

Innovation is increasingly being considered a social process, more bottom-up and interactive, than top-down science to implementation. Projects funded at a European level under Cluster 6 of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, and EIP-AGRI Operational Groups at a national and regional level in each of the 27 EU Member States, reflect this by placing a greater focus on making the best use of different types of knowledge and complimentary expertise (practical, scientific, technical, organisational, etc.) through the Multi-actor Approach (MAA). A wealth of strategic management literature exists on good practice stakeholder engagement strategies which mobilise the necessary bidirectional and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange and idea generation required for successful co-innovation ecosystems. Its counterpart however, from an Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) perspective, is largely absent. This method article addresses this disparity and gap in literature by describing a 5-step AKIS Stakeholder Engagement Strategy developed by the PREMIERE Horizon Europe Project to help co-create an ‘enabling environment’ to foster and ‘speed up’ innovation, knowledge sharing and digitisation in agriculture, forestry and related sectors through mutually beneficial interactions between an extensive and diverse network of AKIS actors (e.g. researchers, advisors, agri-businesses, farmers) at EU, National and regional level. The inclusive nature of the multi-staged stakeholder engagement strategy outlined in this paper, inspired by strategic management literature, helps close the innovation gap between policy, research and practice through genuine multi-actor dialogue, holistic insights and feedback from project inception to completion, thereby helping to build trusting, meaningful and lasting relationships of mutual respect amongst relevant AKIS stakeholders, ranging from policy makers to harder to reach groups ‘on-the ground’, in place of mere, one-off consultations. The resultant knowledge exchange will significantly contribute to meeting objectives and targets set out in the European Green Deal, EU Climate Policy, Common Agricultural Policy and Farm to Fork Strategy.

Improving the Education and Training Policies of the Agri-Food and Forestry Sectors: Identifying New Strategies to Meet the Needs of the Sector and Farm-to-Fork Priorities

The current European agri-food and forestry (AFF) systems are perceived to be moving too slowly towards more sustainable agriculture, forestry, food and bio-based value chains. The European Green Deal and Farm to Fork (FtF) Strategy stress the importance of the sustainable transition of food systems that emphasize resilience and justice along food chains. In this direction, education and training (ET) are given a major role, constituting one of the pillars of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) framework. This study aims to propose an extended version of the AKIS framework to focus on the transition of policies concerning the ET pillar and to use this framework as a conceptual background with which to identify strategies for the improvement of ET policies in the AFF sectors. Data collection was undertaken through a round of workshops, and the data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The results revealed that the need for a high-quality educational policy and the need to enhance collaboration, entrepreneurship and innovative learning methods were among the most important for the sector, where urgent changes in pace and an approach in ET are necessary for the entire value chain, from farm to fork. These results emphasize that pivoting the transition of ET systems toward achieving the Green Deal, FtF and new CAP objectives requires the development of policies that support student-centered and interdisciplinary education, while also being flexible and supported by non-formal and lifelong learning approaches.

Do Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems Have the Dynamic Capabilities to Guide the Digital Transition of Short Food Supply Chains?

The digitalization of agriculture generates a new environment for the actors involved in agrifood production. In such a context, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKISs) face the challenge of reconsidering their operational paradigms, redefining priorities, and designing strategies to achieve new aims. To do so, the actors participating in AKISs should develop and exploit a set of competencies known as dynamic capabilities, including the aptitude to sense the change in the external environment, the capacity to seize the opportunities that this change creates, and an ability to transform and adapt themselves to the new conditions that digitalization generates. In this study, using as examples the AKISs operating in Greece and Italy, we aimed to uncover if and how actors participating in these systems attempt and manage to deploy such capabilities. Based on a qualitative approach and drawing on data from two workshops, we discovered that seizing the opportunities sensed is a challenging task for AKIS actors. Our results also indicate that knowledge is a pivotal resource for AKISs, allowing actors to enhance their transformative capacity. However, to create a “collective” knowledge base, AKISs should ensure a functional connection between stakeholders and strengthen the roles of actors not actively engaged with the system, like public advisory organizations, universities, and technology providers.

Steering the herd or missing the mark? Navigating the role of research for development projects as innovation intermediaries in the Indonesian cattle sector

CONTEXTThe growing demand for beef in Indonesia, driven by population growth, urbanisation, and an emerging middle class, provides a significant opportunity for Indonesian smallholder cattle farmers. Effective innovation in the cattle sector is required to meet this demand and improve the livelihoods of local farmers. OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to understand whether and how Research for Development (R4D) projects can act as innovation intermediaries that enhance the performance of Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) in the Indonesian beef sector. As a case study, we used an R4D project conducted in Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), Indonesia to explore the best practices and opportunities for improvement. METHODSWe qualitatively analysed data from the R4D project using six innovation intermediary functions. RESULTSThis case study partially succeeded in performing intermediary innovation functions. Strengths were noted in capacity building, provision of problem-solving information, and facilitation of collaborative knowledge generation. However, shortcomings were apparent in stakeholder engagement and in effectively addressing farmers' needs. R4D projects play a complex role as innovation intermediaries. A greater focus on participatory approaches, stakeholder engagement, and tailoring strategies to specific local conditions is required to achieve a significant impact. SIGNIFICANCEThis research highlights the operational intricacies and success determinants of innovation intermediaries in Indonesia's cattle farming sector. By adopting a recognised functional approach, we elucidate the challenges and potential of R4D projects, emphasising the necessity of sustained engagement and diverse stakeholder involvement.

Agricultural Chambers in the Process of Transfer of Knowledge and Innovations for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas in Poland

Agricultural chambers together with agricultural advisory centers and other entities are part of the European Union Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). The system consists of a network of entities whose activities are focused on the introduction of new products, technologies, and organizational forms for use in agriculture. The AKIS is also defined as a network of research institutes, advisory centers, agricultural chambers, agricultural schools, and other non-governmental organizations that help farmers to upgrade the innovativeness and competitiveness of their farms and solve agriculture-related problems. In Poland, the activities of self-government in the agricultural sector are specified by the Act on Agricultural Chambers of 14 December 1995. An important research problem is the assessment of the activities of agricultural chambers in terms of the transfer of knowledge and innovations in agriculture in Poland and the determination of their place in the AKIS. This study of the impact of agricultural self-government on the transfer of knowledge and innovations in agriculture was carried out through the analysis of selected agricultural chambers in various regions of Poland taking into account the differences in the average surface area of agricultural land belonging to one farm. The research shows that agricultural chambers’ activities had a substantial impact on the rate of absorption of EU funds under the Rural Development Program in the analyzed regions. The comparison of the effectiveness of the agricultural chambers in Poland with the activities of chambers in the other EU Member States indicates a weak influence of the former on developmental processes in agriculture. Agricultural chambers should actively participate in the formulation of the national agricultural policy, take greater measures to ensure the stability of agricultural income and the flow of information, and be an important partner for farmers in representing their interests.

Undoing the development army: a paradigm shift from transfer of technology to agricultural innovation system in Ethiopian extension

Undoing the development army: a paradigm shift from transfer of technology to agricultural innovation system in Ethiopian extension

Chinese Agriculture for “Green and Grain” Productivity Growth: Evidence from Jiangsu Province

China is striving to leverage the power of science and technology to green its agriculture and simultaneously enhance grain productivity. To assess the performance dynamics of the dual agricultural mission, this study presents the green growth rate of agriculture using the DEA-based Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) indicator, together with the growth rate of grain yields, and applies it to the case of Jiangsu, a major grain-producing province with a well-developed economy. It is found that Jiangsu’s agriculture has generally performed well during the implementation of the two major national strategies addressing green development and grain security, especially in northern Jiangsu, which is a major grain-producing area. In contrast, the phased fluctuations in green growth in agriculture in southern Jiangsu are more pronounced, with negative green growth even occurring during the green agriculture movement. Much of the volatility in agricultural green growth at the provincial, subregional and municipal levels is generated by the effects of the movement of the green technology frontier, which is led by the best practitioners. Accordingly, the possibility of improving the weak state of the catch-up effect on green growth is explored from the perspective of the Chinese government-led agricultural science and innovation system; it also traces the green agricultural initiatives in the main grain-marketing areas that have failed to deliver the expected green growth, and recommends a review of such policies and a refinement of the GTFP Index tool for assessing sustainable green growth.

Obstacles Facing the Agricultural Innovation System for the Corn Crop in Babylon Governorate

The research aimed to diagnose the obstacles facing the agricultural innovation system for the corn crop in general, and the arrangement of the fields of obstacles facing the agricultural innovation system, as well as the arrangement of the items of each area of the obstacles facing the agricultural innovation system, represented in the following fields: (obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system, obstacles to the agricultural innovation system plan, obstacles to organizing the agricultural innovation system, obstacles to developed technologies, obstacles to financial allocations, obstacles to monitoring, obstacles to evaluation). To achieve the objectives of the research, a questionnaire was prepared in the light of the literature and previous studies related to the subject and the opinions of specialized experts and their approval of them, consisting of (61) items distributed over (7) fields, namely (obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system, obstacles to the agricultural innovation system plan, obstacles to organizing the agricultural innovation system, obstacles to derived technologies, obstacles to financial allocations, obstacles to monitoring, obstacles to evaluation), and the research population included all employees in the agricultural innovation system, numbering (104) respondents distributed between (92) managers and (12) researcher, The data was collected using the questionnaire and the personal interview method during the period 5/12/2022 – 19/2/2023, The results of the research showed that the obstacles facing the agricultural innovation system in the Governorate of Babylon are diverse and multiple, and they are not limited to one area, but are distributed over several fields, namely (obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system), (obstacles to financial allocations), (obstacles to the agricultural innovation system plan), (obstacles to evaluation), (obstacles to derived technologies), (obstacles to monitoring), (obstacles to organizing the agricultural innovation system), which obtained means (4.3), (4.11), (4.02), (3.97), (3.97) and (3.86) degrees on respectively, and standard deviations (0.36), (1.6), (0.42), (1.58), (0.43) and (1.37) degrees respectively, and that all these obstacles mentioned above within the level of great importance except for the field of obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system, which is located within the level of very large importance with an mean (4.66) degrees, and a standard deviation of (1.46) degrees. Accordingly, the researcher recommends the need for the constituents of the agricultural innovation system, when addressing the obstacles facing it, to focus more on the field related to (obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system).

Using the Futures Triangle to Infer Images of the Future of Food and Agriculture in the Southern Cone: The Case of Argentina

The different perceptions of food and agriculture stakeholders about the future is a key input to design future-oriented public policies and to build a shared vision of the future. By applying the futures triangle to the results of a qualitative study concerning the future of food and agriculture innovation system in Argentine, five archetypes of images of the future were inferred. The archetypes reflect a distinct combination between the weight of history, the pushes of the present and the pulls of the future, corresponding to the perception of the future of nine distinct stakeholders of the food and agriculture system in Argentine. The archetypes are named: stuck in the present, the future is not ours, the future never comes, the future is being built and the future is ours. The analysis show that the stakeholders can envision the future of the world’s agriculture with a certain degree of creativity. However, they find it difficult to imagine the future of the Argentine agricultural industry in new ways: they repeat the old ideas or notions they have about it. All those visions lead to a demand for changes that are more connected to the present than to the future. This foresight study offers a first approach to explore the different views regarding the future of food and agriculture and it reveals how such views influence the type and characteristics of the new stakeholders demands to the public agriculture sector in Argentina to the year 2030.

Re-orientating agricultural research to address complex challenges: Legitimacy dynamics of a hybrid research organisation

Agricultural research organisations play a critical role in the agri-food system; not only through the provision of research and technologies, but also by brokering relationships with stakeholders throughout the research process to create impact. Yet over the past decade, as the focus has shifted towards such multi-actor innovation processes, the role and legitimacy of the agricultural research organisations world-wide has been challenged. Occupying an intermediary position in agricultural innovation systems means that agricultural research institute legitimacy is constantly under pressure from the rural community, academics, policy makers, industry, and general society as the institute attempts to be all things to all people. Here we present the outcomes of an organisational change programme within an applied agricultural research organisation, in response to a government-led agenda to increase impact for research users. By using institutional theory of hybrid organisation legitimacy, we shed light on the multiple institutional logics that co-exist within an agricultural research institute, and how these align with the external institutional environment. We show that with the introduction of a new multi-actor innovation logic, attempts were made to legitimise, externally and internally, knowledge co-production. Yet agricultural research organisations, and those who work within them, need dedicated time for learning and reflecting on the values, beliefs, and practices of the different actors in the innovation system, otherwise they only selectively adopt practices that maintain existing institutional logics. The main theoretical implications show how that change towards an impact culture is influenced by the existing logics, and how organisational legitimacy provides a framing for understanding the success (or otherwise) of introducing new modes of innovation in hybrid research organisations. Practically, space and resourcing are needed to experiment with new logics and deliberate strategies are required to increase the repertoire of research roles while maintaining internal and external legitimacy. The practical implications demonstrate the barriers and opportunities of re-orientating hybrid agricultural research institutes, agricultural innovation systems, and the roles of the researchers that work in them, to deliver to the complex societal challenges facing the agri-food sector.

Addressing the politics of mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems

Mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems (MAIS) are becoming more prevalent in view of tackling the challenges of agri-food systems transformation. In this perspective, we argue that the politics of MAIS requires more comprehensive and considerable attention in the field, given the contested and deeply normative nature of the direction of innovations in agri-food systems transformation. Literature from development studies, policy sciences, and transition studies is reviewed to inform the perspective. We question the politics of MAIS structured around the dimensions of the 4D framework: directionality, diversity, distribution and democracy. Regarding directionality, MAIS should explicitly consider how power dynamics shape the direction of innovation and future agri-food systems, and to which extent these power dynamics hinder desirable directions. Considering diversity means that MAIS need to stimulate a diversity of transformation pathways; include a diversity of actors, communities and knowledge; and consider roles of both humans and non-humans in transformation. Questions regarding the distribution of resources and effects of innovations across ecosystems and communities imply that MAIS should actively advance just transitions across different scales and geographical contexts. Finally, democratization of MAIS in our view means that the ways in which knowledge and innovations are produced through MAIS should be more democratic and deliberative, though this may be challenging since missions imply strong steering. We stress that these 4D considerations also bring along important implications for the ways policies and research on and in MAIS, and agri-food system transformation more broadly, are considered. Confronting the politics of MAIS is not an easy endeavor, but critical to advance agri-food system transformation in directions that are not only sustainable and transformative, but also socially just and desirable. This requires for agricultural systems researchers to develop awareness on how their work feeds into the politics of MAIS, and conversely is influenced by it.

Modelling agricultural innovations as a social-ecological phenomenon

Agricultural innovations involve both social and social-ecological dynamics where outcomes emerge from interactions of innovation actors embedded within their ecological environments. Neglecting the interconnected nature of social-ecological innovations can lead to a flawed understanding and assessment of innovations. In this paper, we present an empirically informed, stylized agent-based model of agricultural innovation systems in Mali, West Africa. The study aimed to understand the emergence of food security and income inequality outcomes through two distinct model structures: top-down, aid-driven (exogenous) innovation and bottom-up, community-driven (endogenous) innovation. Our research questions were: i) How does the inclusion of social-ecological interactions in the model affect food security and income inequality outcomes? ii) How do exogenous and endogenous mechanisms influence food insecurity and income inequality? iii) What are the conditions under which exogenous and endogenous mechanisms would improve food security? The structural design of the model was based on a combination of theory, empirics, and mapping of social-ecological dynamics within innovation systems. Using the Social-Ecological Action Situation framework, we mapped the social, social-ecological, and ecological interactions that jointly produce food security outcomes. The exploratory model analysis reveals three key insights: i) Incorporation of social-ecological interactions influences model outcomes. Scenarios with social-ecological interactions showed a stronger relationship between income inequality and food security, lower levels of food security, and higher levels of income inequality than scenarios with social interactions. ii) Endogenous mechanism leads to higher food security and income inequality than the exogenous mechanism. iii) Bidirectional outreach is more effective than unidirectional outreach in improving food security. Inclusion of social-ecological dynamics and interactions such as the role of climate risk perception, social learning and formation of innovation beliefs and desires is key for modelling and analysis of agricultural innovations.

Visualised AKIS Diagnosis – an Instrumental Approach to Support AKIS Appraisal

SummaryThe AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System) concept is now widely applied in the EU partly due to latest CAP regulation. Visualisation‐based AKIS diagnosis relies on the iterative elaboration of an AKIS diagram that provides a static picture of what elements of the system are linked through what kind of relations in which socio‐economic contexts and environments. In this article we discuss the implications of using the visualised AKIS diagnosis method based on our empirical assessment of AKIS in 28 European countries. The method involved drafting AKIS diagrams based on targeted desk research, conducting dialogues with experts affiliated with or overseeing prominent knowledge organisations to adjust and refine the diagrams and to analyse actor diversity and linkages. The final diagrams and the background reports on AKIS appraisal were used to deepen the AKIS understanding among various stakeholders in the agriculture sector, as well as an input for the CAP strategic plan preparation in some countries. We conclude that the visualised AKIS diagnosis has a great potential to make complex knowledge infrastructures and exchange processes tangible. However, it also comes with risks, for example, that the snapshot in time may become misleading, through being an outdated or erroneous representation.

Agricultural innovation system: analysis from the subsystems of R&D, training, extension, and sustainability

The challenges faced by agricultural innovation systems (A.I.S.) are complex to solve, however, the authors consider that understanding the processes of innovation and development (R&D), sustainability, use of information and communication technologies, training, and outreach, as the focus of discussion in this review, have great potential to close the gaps in the system; as well as exploring strategies, projects and best practices that dynamize the operation of the system. The objective of this article is to review the literature on A.I.S.A. to identify its obstacles, challenges, and solution to close its gaps. The methodology identified the critical factors of system monitoring and defines search suitability to obtain 55 documents. With the results, a qualitative analysis is conducted on the mentioned axes, which is complemented with the text mining software Vantage Point V 15.1 to observe in graphical form the most relevant aspects. Within the conclusions is a constant demand from actors for access to information, and knowledge in the training processes, it is recommended in this regard the additional skills for innovation and participation in concerted practices. As regards the limitations of agricultural innovation processes, it suggests the involvement of cooperatives, technological platforms, and farmers’ organizations as intermediaries relevant to closing gaps. With regard to sustainability, A.I.S. thinking is recommended for an inclusive dialogue among actors and to facilitate sustainability transitions. Finally, to address the socio-technical and ethical challenges of access to technologies and technological transition, it is recommended to design appropriate policies for access to resources and the development of markets that enhance business opportunities and the development of sustainable innovations.

About Governance of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System – The Case of Bulgaria - part I

This paper examines the governance, efficiency, and development of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) in Bulgaria. The Governance of AKIS includes diverse governing agents, a variety of rules, mechanisms and modes for agents, and the process of governing, and the outcome (specific order and efficiency) of the governance. First, participants in the country’s AKIS and the type of their relations are specified. Second, a diagnosis of the state and trends in AR&D is made. The study is based on available data from statistical sources, official reports, fields surveys as well as assessments of a panel of leading experts in the area and stakeholders’ representatives. The study has found out that AKIS of the country consists of diverse and numerous organisations, for which activities and complex relations have no sufficient official or other reliable information. Bulgarian AKIS demonstrates low resource endowment and efficiency, domination of outdated public institutions and undeveloped private sector, insufficient sharing of knowledge and innovations, slow and uneven application of modern technologies, varieties, production and management methods, digitalisation, etc. in different types of farms, sub-sectors of agriculture and regions of the country.