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Living Labs as an Approach to Strengthen Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems

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  • Jorieke Potters
  • Kevin Collins
  • Herman Schoorlemmer
  • Egil Petter Stræte
  • Emils Kilis
  • Andy Lane
  • Heloise Leloup

Abstract

Climate and ecosystem changes, economic and policy imperatives, food system pressures, and multiple societal expectations pose complex challenges for sustainable farming. A key problem is determining an effective and efficient approach to enable innovation in complex, multi‐stakeholder settings. One approach currently receiving much policy attention and investment in the EU is ‘Living Labs’ which bring together public and private stakeholders to co‐create, validate, and test new services, business ideas, markets and technologies. However, the analysis, monitoring and evaluation of Living Labs and their effectiveness and policy value in different contexts is limited. The AgriLink Living Labs were undertaken between 2018 and 2021 in Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, Norway, Romania and Spain to co‐create innovation support for improving agricultural sustainability. Our evaluation suggests that four inter‐related critical conditions are needed for the success of Living Labs. These relate to the complexity of the challenge, the enabling environment, the proficient facilitation and the energy to move. These conditions influence the functioning of the Living Lab and we discuss the implications for policymakers and practitioners for the deployment of Living Labs in agricultural settings. Les changements climatiques et écosystémiques, les impératifs économiques et d’action publique, les pressions sur le système alimentaire et les multiples attentes sociétales posent des défis complexes pour une agriculture durable. Un problème clé consiste à déterminer une approche efficace et efficiente pour permettre l'innovation dans des contextes complexes et multipartites. Une approche qui reçoit actuellement beaucoup d'attention de la part des pouvoirs publics et d'investissements dans l'Union européenne est celle des ‘Laboratoires vivants’ qui rassemblent des acteurs publics et privés pour co‐créer, valider et tester de nouveaux services, idées commerciales, marchés et technologies. Cependant, il existe peu d'analyses, de suivi et d'évaluation des Laboratoires vivants ainsi que de leur efficacité et leur valeur en matière de politique dans différents contextes. Les laboratoires vivants AgriLink ont débuté entre 2018 et 2021 en Italie, en Lettonie, aux Pays‐Bas, en Norvège, en Roumanie et en Espagne afin de co‐créer un soutien à l'innovation pour améliorer la durabilité de l’agriculture. Notre évaluation suggère que quatre conditions critiques interdépendantes sont nécessaires au succès des Laboratoires vivants. Celles‐ci sont liées à la complexité du défi, aux conditions propices de l’environnement institutionnel, à la présence d’une facilitation compétente et à l'énergie pour le changement. Ces conditions influencent le fonctionnement du Laboratoire vivant et nous discutons des implications pour les décideurs des politiques et les praticiens du déploiement des Laboratoires vivants en milieu agricole. Klima‐ und Ökosystemveränderungen, wirtschaftliche und politische Zwänge, Druck auf das Ernährungssystem und vielfältige gesellschaftliche Erwartungen stellen komplexe Herausforderungen für eine nachhaltige Landwirtschaft dar. Ein zentrales Problem besteht darin, einen effektiven und effizienten Ansatz zu finden, der Innovationen in einem komplexen Umfeld mit vielen Interessengruppen ermöglicht. Ein Ansatz, der derzeit in der EU viel politische Aufmerksamkeit und Investitionen erhält, sind die ‘Living Labs’. Diese bringen öffentliche und private Akteure zusammen, um gemeinsam neue Dienstleistungen, Geschäftsideen, Märkte und Technologien zu entwickeln, zu validieren und zu testen. Die Analyse, Überwachung und Bewertung von Living Labs und ihrer Wirksamkeit und ihres politischen Nutzens in verschiedenen Kontexten ist jedoch begrenzt. Die AgriLink Living Labs wurden zwischen 2018 und 2021 in Italien, Lettland, den Niederlanden, Norwegen, Rumänien und Spanien durchgeführt, um gemeinsam Innovationsförderung zu entwickeln, die der Verbesserung der landwirtschaftlichen Nachhaltigkeit dient. Unsere Bewertung legt nahe, dass für den Erfolg der Living Labs vier miteinander verbundene kritische Bedingungen erforderlich sind. Diese beziehen sich auf die Komplexität der Herausforderung, das fördernde Umfeld, die kompetente Durchführung und die Energie, etwas zu bewegen. Diese Bedingungen beeinflussen das Funktionieren des Living Labs. Wir diskutieren die Folgen für Personen mit politischer Entscheidungsbefugnis und solchen aus der Praxis für den Einsatz von Living Labs in der Landwirtschaft.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorieke Potters & Kevin Collins & Herman Schoorlemmer & Egil Petter Stræte & Emils Kilis & Andy Lane & Heloise Leloup, 2022. "Living Labs as an Approach to Strengthen Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 21(1), pages 23-29, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:eurcho:v:21:y:2022:i:1:p:23-29
    DOI: 10.1111/1746-692X.12342
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chris McPhee & Margaret Bancerz & Muriel Mambrini-Doudet & François Chrétien & Christian Huyghe & Javier Gracia-Garza, 2021. "The Defining Characteristics of Agroecosystem Living Labs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-25, February.
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    1. Irene Bouwma & Seerp Wigboldus & Jorieke Potters & Trond Selnes & Sabine van Rooij & Judith Westerink, 2022. "Sustainability Transitions and the Contribution of Living Labs: A Framework to Assess Collective Capabilities and Contextual Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Toffolini, Quentin & Hannachi, Mourad & Capitaine, Mathieu & Cerf, Marianne, 2023. "Ideal-types of experimentation practices in agricultural Living Labs: Various appropriations of an open innovation model," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    3. Gardezi, Maaz & Abuayyash, Halimeh & Adler, Paul R. & Alvez, Juan P. & Anjum, Rubaina & Badireddy, Appala Raju & Brugler, Skye & Carcamo, Pablo & Clay, David & Dadkhah, Ali & Emery, Mary & Faulkner, J, 2024. "The role of living labs in cultivating inclusive and responsible innovation in precision agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).

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