Agricultural Innovation Systems: An Investment Sourcebook

Submitted by Carlo Angelico on Wed, 15/08/2012 - 11:43

[News]

Agricultural development enables agriculture and people to adapt rapidly when challenges occur and to respond readily when opportunities arise - as they inevitably will, because agriculture’s physical, social, and economic environment changes continually.

Climate change, globalizing markets for agricultural products, far-reaching developments in technology, and equally transformative evolution in institutions have been altering agriculture’s social and economic landscape over the past few decades. Markets, urbanization, globalization, and a changing environment not only influence patterns of consumption, competition, and trade but also drive agricultural development and innovation far more than before.

In this context, the AIS Investment Sourcebook draws on the emerging principles of Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) analysis and action to help to identify, design, and implement the investments, approaches, and complementary interventions that appear most likely to strengthen innovation systems and promote agricultural innovation and equitable growth.

An AIS approach looks at the multiple conditions and relationships that promote innovation in agriculture. It may offer a more flexible means of dealing with the varied conditions and contexts in which innovation must occur.

Although the sourcebook discusses why investments in AISs are becoming so important, it gives most of its attention to how specific approaches and practices can foster innovation in a range of contexts. The information in this sourcebook derives from approaches that have been tested at different scales in different contexts and  reflects the experiences and evolving understanding of numerous individuals and organizations concerned with agricultural innovation, including the World Bank.

The content of the AIS Sourcebook is presented in 7 Thematic Modules. Each Module covers a theme related to assessing and designing investments in a particular area integral to the AIS.

According to the Sourcebook, better knowledge sharing and better use of available information and technologies for desired changes are at the center of innovation processes. Extension and advisory services can become nodes for exchanging information and services that help to put knowledge to use, then they become well positioned to facilitate and support multi-stakeholder processes.

The book also reviews investments in mechanisms for articulating demand and developing interfaces with other actors - for example, through co-design, innovation platforms, alliances and consortia, and technology transfer and commercialization - giving special attention to the potential for public-private partnerships and regional innovation systems.

The sourcebook provides lessons and examples of many potential interventions that promote private sector contributions to innovation either through service provision, R&D, technology transfer and commercialization, or other business-related innovation.

This sourcebook is thought as a living document that remains open to dialogue and new, imaginative approaches to innovation for agricultural development. Its primary home is online, where it will be updated and expanded as new experience is gained and new approaches and initiatives arise. The authors strongly encourage readers to update, verify, and offer feedback on the information presented.

(Source: http://www.e-agriculture.org/news/agricultural-innovation-systems-investment-sourcebook )