Knowledge Mobilisation In Agriculture & Food:

Transcription

1 KT Conference Future of Farm Advisory Services Delivering Innovative Systems Knowledge Mobilisation In Agriculture & Food: A Framework for Sustainably-Competitive Agriculture Gordon Purvis 1, Liam Downey 1 & Bob Lawlor 2 1 School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin 2 Department of Electronic Engineering, National University of Ireland, Maynooth 1

2 The Global Challenges in Agri-Food A Growing Human Population Finite Resources Environmental Degradation Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Farming Systems - within the Context of Globalised Markets Regional Self-sufficiency in Food Production The challenges facing agriculture today are unlike anything we have experienced before, and they require revolutionary approaches to solving food production and sustainability problems (Foley et al. 2011: Solutions for a cultivated planet Nature 478, ) 2

3 A New Model Sustainably-Competitive Agriculture Customised to regional strengths (Purvis et al. 2012) Design Criteria: Profitable at farm level Produce market-required goods Meet animal health & welfare needs Environmentally sustainable Can cope with climate change Energy efficient Facilitate both a technical and value-added marketing advantage with demonstrable benefits from multiple (safety, quality, environmental & animal health) perspectives 3

4 Sustainably-Competitive Agriculture: The Conceptual Model Food for Health Food Safety Animal Health, Welfare Environment & Climate Change Food Quality Animal Genetics Requires Integration of Expertise & Knowledge in: Farming, Food & Environment Animal Nutrition Knowledge Agriculture Farm Profitability Competitiveness Sustainability 4

5 Twin-Track Requirements in Farming: Innovation in Agri-Food Systems Efficiency in Production Environmental Sustainability Sustainably-Competitive. Models Future food production systems must achieve: Increased Farm Productivity + Adherence to Environmental Standards (After Hanrahan & Donnellan, 2012) 5

6 Sustainably-Competitive Agriculture: An Agronomic Model Provides a framework for strategic development greenhouse gas N 2 O emissions NH 3 CH 4 Similar models can be created for other production systems through integration of knowledge wider biodiversity CO 2 Pasture Function Rumen Function animal health/ performance Identifies the gaps in existing knowledge as key system epicentres soil quality efficiency of nutrient uptake loss of nutrients to ground water 6

7 Framework for the Mobilisation of Knowledge in System Development Knowledge Generation Creation of Sustainably-Competitive Models (integration of knowledge & identification of priority knowledge gaps) Systems-Based Programme Development (regional customisation & demonstration of benefits ) Knowledge Mobilisation Advisory Services Vocational Education Higher Education Stakeholders Forum Producers Processors Marketing Retailers Consumers Agencies 7

8 Knowledge Management Knowledge Generation Platform Knowledge Mobilisation Platform Resources Research Knowledge Reservoir Knowledge Harvesting Translation Communication Innovation Peer Reviewed Papers Conference Proceedings Technical Periodicals Press Reports Unpublished Reports Databases Revative under-investment in Knowledge Mobilisation much knowledge remains innaccessible to the potential end-users 8

9 Enhancing Knowledge Mobilisation Knowledge Generation Platform Knowledge Mobilisation Platform Funding Agencies ---Research Centres ---Higher & Vocational Education --- Advisory Services Knowledge Generation Knowledge Reservoir Knowledge Harvesting Translation Communication = Creation of = Model Sustainably-Competitive Customisation to Model(s) Meet Regional Needs Discussion Groups Demonstration & Monitor Farms Innovation Stakeholder Feedback Processes 9

10 Building Advisory Capacity: Structural Components Communication Systems (ICT) Monitored Farms Demonstration Farms STAKE HOLDERS Public-Private Partnerships Discussion Groups Farm-System Research 10

11 Building Advisory Capacity: Advisory Expertise Communication Skills & ICT Rural Socio-economics Food Safety, Quality & Nutrition FARM INCOME Environmental Sustainability & Resilience Animal Health & Welfare Farm Economics & Agri-business Animal Genetics & Nutrition 11

12 Key Role of Education in Agri-Food Innovation Agriculture Environment Food Science Integrated Agri-Food Education For Advisors, Farmers, State & Private Agri-Food Organisations 12

13 Indicative Goals for Educational Systems that Address the Challenges Faced 13

14 Key Roles of the EIP for Agricultural Productivity & Sustainability at EU-level and Operational Groups at Member State-level At EU-level Actions for the EIP for Agriculture At Member State-level a Focus for Operational Groups Knowledge Harvesting Translation Communication Development of System Sustainability Standards Incorporation of Sustainability Standards Targeted Knowledge Generation Knowledge Reservoir Creation of Sustainably-Competitive Model(s) Model Customisation to Meet Regional Needs Delivery of Advisory Support Services Innovation Appraisal of Educational Needs Delivery of Educational Programmes 14

15 Summary of Actions at EU & Member State-levels Necessary to Ensure Effective Knowledge Mobilisation Advisory/Educational Support Systems MS-level - Operational Groups Knowledge Communication Educational Delivery Customised Systems Development MS-level - Operational Groups - Knowledge Translation Review of Needs in Agri-Food Education EU-level - Agri-Food Education Initiative Creation of Sustainably-Competitive Agri-Food Models (+ Development of System-specific EU-Sustainability Standards) EU-level Knowledge-Harvesting Platforms EIP for Agricultural Productivity & Sustainability EU-level - Policy Framework 15