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Learning in context through conflict and alignment: Farmers and scientists in search of sustainable agriculture

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  • Jasper Eshuis
  • Marian Stuiver

Abstract

This article analyzes learning in context through the prism of a sustainable dairy-farming project. The research was performed within a nutrient management project that involved the participation of farmers and scientists. Differences between heterogeneous forms of farmers’ knowledge and scientific knowledge were discursively constructed during conflict and subsequent alignment over the validity and relevance of knowledge. Both conflict and alignment appeared to be essential for learning in context. Conflict spurred learning when disagreeing groups of actors developed their knowledge in order to strengthen their arguments. Conflict caused self-referentiality when the actors no longer listened to each other. This inhibited self-reflection, thus blocking ongoing learning. Nevertheless, after a period of alignment, scientific models and knowledge of farmers were reevaluated and recontextualized. Through determining how to use scientific models and farmers’ knowledge for further learning, aimed at a shared goal, the participating actors also learned how to learn. Copyright Springer 2005

Suggested Citation

  • Jasper Eshuis & Marian Stuiver, 2005. "Learning in context through conflict and alignment: Farmers and scientists in search of sustainable agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 22(2), pages 137-148, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:22:y:2005:i:2:p:137-148
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-004-8274-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Hermans, Frans & Stuiver, Marian & Beers, P.J. & Kok, Kasper, 2013. "The distribution of roles and functions for upscaling and outscaling innovations in agricultural innovation systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 117-128.
    2. Caroline K. Lumosi & Claudia Pahl-Wostl & Geeske Scholz, 2020. "Evaluating trust and shared group identities in emergent social learning processes in the Zambezi river basin," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Ana Guzmán Ruiz & Meredith Dobbie & Rebekah Brown, 2017. "Insights and future directions of transdisciplinary practice in the urban water sector," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 7(2), pages 251-263, June.
    4. Saskia Hommes & Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf & Henriëtte Otter & Geiske Bouma, 2009. "Knowledge and Perceptions in Participatory Policy Processes: Lessons from the Delta-Region in the Netherlands," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(8), pages 1641-1663, June.
    5. Eligio Malusà & Ewa M. Furmanczyk & Małgorzata Tartanus & Gerjan Brouwer & Claude-Eric Parveaud & François Warlop & Markus Kelderer & Jutta Kienzle & Evelyne Alcazar Marin & Teun Dekker & Radek Vávra , 2022. "Knowledge Networks in Organic Fruit Production across Europe: A Survey Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Menconi, M.E. & Tasso, S. & Santinelli, M. & Grohmann, D., 2020. "A card game to renew urban parks: Face-to-face and online approach for the inclusive involvement of local community," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    7. Margret Krieger & Philip J. Jones & Isabel Blanco-Penedo & Julie E. Duval & Ulf Emanuelson & Susanne Hoischen-Taubner & Karin Sjöström & Albert Sundrum, 2020. "Improving Animal Health on Organic Dairy Farms: Stakeholder Views on Policy Options," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Daniel Velden & Joost Dessein & Laurens Klerkx & Lies Debruyne, 2023. "Constructing legitimacy for technologies developed in response to environmental regulation: the case of ammonia emission-reducing technology for the Flemish intensive livestock industry," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(2), pages 649-665, June.
    9. Charis Linda Braun & Vera Bitsch & Anna Maria Häring, 2022. "Behind the scenes of a learning agri-food value chain: lessons from action research," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 119-134, March.
    10. David Meek & Katharine Bradley & Bruce Ferguson & Lesli Hoey & Helda Morales & Peter Rosset & Rebecca Tarlau, 2019. "Food sovereignty education across the Americas: multiple origins, converging movements," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 36(3), pages 611-626, September.
    11. Ralph De Witte & Dirk Janssen & Samir Sayadi Gmada & Carmen García-García, 2023. "Best Practices for Training in Sustainable Greenhouse Horticulture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-26, March.
    12. Aurélie Cardona & Cristiana Carusi & Michael Mayerfeld Bell, 2021. "Engaged Intermediaries to Bridge the Gap between Scientists, Educational Practitioners and Farmers to Develop Sustainable Agri-Food Innovation Systems: A US Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-13, October.
    13. García-Barrios, L.E. & Speelman, E.N. & Pimm, M.S., 2008. "An educational simulation tool for negotiating sustainable natural resource management strategies among stakeholders with conflicting interests," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 210(1), pages 115-126.
    14. Solana-Gutiérrez, Joaquín & Rincón, Gonzalo & Alonso, Carlos & García-de-Jalón, Diego, 2017. "Using fuzzy cognitive maps for predicting river management responses: A case study of the Esla River basin, Spain," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 360(C), pages 260-269.
    15. Caroline Brock & Douglas Jackson-Smith & Steven Culman & Douglas Doohan & Catherine Herms, 2021. "Soil balancing within organic farming: negotiating meanings and boundaries in an alternative agricultural community of practice," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(2), pages 449-465, June.
    16. Benjamin Cohen, 2009. "The once and future georgic: agricultural practice, environmental knowledge, and the place for an ethic of experience," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 26(3), pages 153-165, September.
    17. Bin Wu & Liyan Zhang, 2013. "Farmer innovation diffusion via network building: a case of winter greenhouse diffusion in China," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 30(4), pages 641-651, December.
    18. Murray Bruges & Willie Smith, 2008. "Participatory approaches for sustainable agriculture: A contradiction in terms?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 25(1), pages 13-23, January.
    19. HaeRan Shin, 2016. "Re-making a place-of-memory: The competition between representativeness and place-making knowledge in Gwangju, South Korea," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 53(16), pages 3566-3583, December.
    20. Gerlak, Andrea K. & Guido, Zack & Owen, Gigi & McGoffin, Mariana Sofia Rodriguez & Louder, Elena & Davies, Julia & Smith, Kelly Jay & Zimmer, Andy & Murveit, Anna M. & Meadow, Alison & Shrestha, Padme, 2023. "Stakeholder engagement in the co-production of knowledge for environmental decision-making," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    21. Hermans, Frans & van Apeldoorn, Dirk & Stuiver, Marian & Kok, Kasper, 2013. "Niches and networks: Explaining network evolution through niche formation processes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 613-623.
    22. Susanne Hoischen-Taubner & Jonas Habel & Verena Uhlig & Eva-Marie Schwabenbauer & Theresa Rumphorst & Lara Ebert & Detlev Möller & Albert Sundrum, 2021. "The Whole and the Parts—A New Perspective on Production Diseases and Economic Sustainability in Dairy Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.

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