Sustainable Development Integrated Into A Network Of Knowledge And Skills. The Case Of An Agricultural Technical Institute

Background: Bioeconomic expertise to fight against climate change is a source of innovation that is embedded in networks combining different types of proximities. The construction and maintenance of knowledge and skills need to share, to practice and to discuss on experiences. The case studied concerns an Agricultural Technical Institute – national unit and local stations – working to disseminate sustainable production practices. The problem is expressed as follows: "What type of network do the actors promote to maintain and build territorialized and universal skills centered on sustainable development? In order to answer these questions, the literature on networks and on bioeconomics innovations oriented sustainable development are mobilized. The networks highlight the nodes and the cognitive, hierarchical, institutional, geographic, cognitive and also affective relationships between actors. By emphasizing organized proximities, it is possible to understand the networks of reciprocal exchange of knowledge, with reference to the principles of parity and reciprocity of gifts and roles. Approach / Method: The methodology is based on an interpretative design. After an audit commissioned by the national unit, the researcher, by abduction, has been able to perceive the existence of a network of relations between the actors in their daily work centered on the dissemination of more sustainable production practices. The investigation involved specific coding work carried out as part of the reuse of qualitative data in management. 31 semi-structured interviews were conducted with four types of actors: 6 customers, 10 members of the station management team, 7 station presidents and 8 managers of the national unit. The interviews were coded and then the data processing was carried out with the Python programming language to quantify the quotes between the actors and to build the adjacency matrix of the quotes. Then the use of the Gephi network construction software made it possible to visualize the graph. Findings: Two main results are highlighted. Some actors are frequently cited and these citations recognize the existence of expertise and good practices. The incoming and outgoing graphs show that some actors exercise a specific role within their community. Five communities are also highlighted: three linked to strong geographical proximity, one linked to institutional proximity around a governance referent and another qualified as a "scientific discussion club". Three different types of innovation and dissemination of alternative production practices are then studied. Conclusion: The graphic visualization of these recognized skills and know-how could allow the national unit to promote governance adapted to its choice of specialization of the stations without inducing too hierarchical network.