Agricultural interactive knowledge models: researchers’ perceptions about farmers’ knowledges and information sources in Spain

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Agricultural innovation implies sharing information between researchers and farmers. Acknowledging the value of the other partner’s knowledge is a preliminary step to facilitate agricultural interactive models. Traditionally, researchers’ knowledges have been dominant, and farmers’ knowledges have been underestimated. A large number of innovation papers pay attention to farmers’ attitudes, interests, perceptions, barriers or drivers to change their practices. However, there is not so much information about researchers’ point of view. The present paper analyses researchers’ perceptions about farmers’ knowledges and information sources.

Design

It is based on a survey of 156 agricultural researchers mostly from public institutions in Spain.

Methodology/approach

Descriptive statistics and principal component analysis (PCA) focused on researchers’ perceptions of farmers’ knowledges and information sources.

Findings

This paper finds that there are two distinct profiles of researchers according to their perceptions on the relevance of knowledges and information sources for farmers. However, both profiles shared the view of ‘own experience’ as a highly relevant source for farmers’ knowledges.

Practical implications

It advises how to promote knowledge sharing according to different researchers’ perceptions of farmers’ knowledges and information sources.

Theoretical implications

This paper classifies agricultural researchers according to their perceptions of farmers’ knowledges and information sources. This classification enriches the discussion about agricultural interactive knowledge models.

Originality/value

This paper pays attention to researchers’ perceptions of farmers’ knowledges and information sources. It particularly focuses on multi-actor approaches and the integration of farmers’ and researchers’ knowledges.

KEYWORDS:

• AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems)
• researchers’ perceptions
• agricultural innovation
• researchers’ knowledge
• farmers’ knowledges

Acknowledgements

This research (Project CoNnecta, RTA2015-00070-C03) has been funded under the Spanish programme of RDI for societal challenges by INIA, MINECO and A.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria: [Grant Number Project CoNnecta RTA2015-00070-C03. Spanish progra].

Notes on contributors

J. L. Cruz

José Luis Cruz is the Head of Rural Development in IMIDRA. He received his PhD in Agronomic Engineering and Master in Social Sciences. His main research topics are agricultural innovation, short food supply chains, social innovation, matchfunding for rural development and farmers’ perceptions.

L. M. Albisu

Luis Miguel Albisu is the Chairman Scientific Committee of CITA. He received his PhD in Agricultural Economics, Cornell University (USA). His main research interests are agrofood marketing, international trade and knowledge transfer.

J. P. Zamorano

José Pablo Zamorano is the Head of Knowledge Transfer in IMIDRA. He received his PhD in Chemistry (Food science and technology), Graduate in Biology and Expert in the research/innovation interface with a focus on intellectual property and knowledge transfer. He has designed innovation measures for the last two Rural Development Programmes of the Madrid region. His main research interests are research and innovation policies and knowledge transfer strategies and practices.

S. Sayadi

Samir Sayadi Gmada is Senior Researcher and Head of the Food Chain Economics Department in IFAPA, belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia (Spain). He received his PhD in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development from the University of Cordoba-Spain, Master of Science in Agrifood Marketing from the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies-Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza-Spain (CIHEAM-IAMZ), and Master in Local Development of Rural and Disadvantaged Areas from the University of Granada-Spain. His research activities are focused on agrarian economics and agri-food marketing, multifunctionality, rural development, sustainability and innovation in agriculture and rural areas, as well as the evaluation of public and environmental goods.