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Supporting Innovation in Organic Agriculture: A European Perspective Using Experience from the SOLID Project

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  • Padel, Susanne
  • Vaarst, Mette
  • Zaralis, Konstantinos

Abstract

Organic farming is recognized as one source for innovation helping agriculture to develop sustainably. However, the understanding of innovation in agriculture is characterized by technical optimism, relying mainly on new inputs and technologies originating from research. The paper uses the alternative framework of innovation systems describing innovation as the outcome of stakeholder interaction and examples from the SOLID (Sustainable Organic Low-Input Dairying) project to discuss the role of farmers, researchers and knowledge exchange for innovation. We used a farmer-led participatory approach to identify problems of organic and low-input dairy farming in Europe and develop and evaluate innovative practices. Experience so far shows that improvements of sustainability can be made through better exploitation of knowledge. For example, it is recognized that optimal utilization of good quality forage is vitally important, but farmers showed a lack of confidence in the reliability of forage production both in quantity and quality. We conclude that the systems framework improves the understanding of innovation processes in organic agriculture. Farmer-led research is an effective way to bring together the scientific approach with the farmers’ practical and context knowledge in finding solutions to problems experienced by farmers and to develop sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Padel, Susanne & Vaarst, Mette & Zaralis, Konstantinos, 2015. "Supporting Innovation in Organic Agriculture: A European Perspective Using Experience from the SOLID Project," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(3 Special).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ccsesa:230378
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.230378
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    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/230378/files/p32_32-41_.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hall, Andrew & Mytelka, Lynn & Oyeyinka, Banji, 2005. "Innovation Systems: Implications for agricultural policy and practice," ILAC Briefs 52512, Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC) Initiative.
    2. Volker Hoffmann & Kirsten Probst & Anja Christinck, 2007. "Farmers and researchers: How can collaborative advantages be created in participatory research and technology development?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 24(3), pages 355-368, September.
    3. Tom MacMillan & Tim G. Benton, 2014. "Agriculture: Engage farmers in research," Nature, Nature, vol. 509(7498), pages 25-27, May.
    4. Koutsouris, Alex, 2012. "Facilitating Agricultural Innovation Systems: A critical realist approach," Studies in Agricultural Economics, Research Institute for Agricultural Economics, vol. 114(2), pages 1-7, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ndlovu Wiseman & Sabine Moebs & Marizvikuru Mwale & Jethro Zuwarimwe, 2022. "The Role Of Support Organisations In Promoting Organic Farming Innovations And Sustainability," Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture (MJSA), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 6(1), pages 44-50, July.
    2. Vaarst, Mette, 2015. "The Role of Animals in Eco-functional Intensification of Organic Agriculture," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(3 Special).
    3. Nigel Scollan & Susanne Padel & Niels Halberg & John Hermansen & Pip Nicholas & Marketta Rinne & Raffaele Zanoli & Werner Zollitsch & Ludwig Lauwers, 2017. "Organic and Low†Input Dairy Farming: Avenues to Enhance Sustainability and Competitiveness in the EU," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 16(3), pages 40-45, December.
    4. Simona Naspetti & Serena Mandolesi & Jeroen Buysse & Terhi Latvala & Philippa Nicholas & Susanne Padel & Ellen J. Van Loo & Raffaele Zanoli, 2017. "Determinants of the Acceptance of Sustainable Production Strategies among Dairy Farmers: Development and Testing of a Modified Technology Acceptance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Kim S. Alexander & Garry Greenhalgh & Magnus Moglia & Manithaythip Thephavanh & Phonevilay Sinavong & Silva Larson & Tom Jovanovic & Peter Case, 2020. "What is technology adoption? Exploring the agricultural research value chain for smallholder farmers in Lao PDR," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(1), pages 17-32, March.
    6. Simona Naspetti & Serena Mandolesi & Jeroen Buysse & Terhi Latvala & Phillipa Nicholas & Susanne Padel & Ellen J. Loo & Raffaele Zanoli, 2021. "Consumer perception of sustainable practices in dairy production," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 9(1), pages 1-26, December.
    7. Rosa Maria Fanelli, 2021. "Barriers to Adopting New Technologies within Rural Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Mallory, Ellen B. & Halberg, Niels & Andreasen, Lise & Delate, Kathleen & Ngouajio, Mathieu, 2015. "Innovations in Organic Food Systems for Sustainable Production and Ecosystem Services: An Introduction to the Special Issue of Sustainable Agriculture Research," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 4(3 Special).

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