Understanding and Changing Farming, Food & Fiber Systems. The Organic Cotton Case in Mali and West Africa (original) (raw)
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Handbook of Science and Technology Studies, 4th edition, eds. U. Felt, R. Fouché, C. Miller, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press., and L. Smith-Doerr, 2016
agriculture, accentuating how this work has become more diverse in its geography, topics, methods, and participants. We present two cases to illustrate how coproduction can provide novel insight: the intersections between agrobiodiversity, farmer knowledge, and plant breeding IP; and between pollinators, industrial food, and scientific knowledge. We conclude by arguing that visualizing coproduction can enable renewed agency and promote the re-conceptualization of food systems around diversity, not homogeneity.
Farming and Rural Systems Research: A Constellation of Systemic and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
2010
Farming Systems Research (FSR) represents a particular set of views for agricultural and rural development research and practice, which contrasts with the conventional and linear models of knowledge production and technology or innovation transfer (Roling, 1994). These views are not new and were built with multiple contributions coming from different contexts, scientific disciplines and experiences, frequently with distinct assumptions, theoretical basis and methodologies. Historically, we can consider two major lines of development, the Francophone and the Anglophone, with different roots and paths. In the Francophone case, the origins are the work developed in the 60's by tropical geographers and neo-Marxist ethnologists, the first emphasizing the study of local territories and forms of organizing production, and the latter underlining the importance of analysing power relations and conflicts, the relationships between exchanges and distribution, and the issues of dependency and social redistribution (Pillot, 1993: 22). Such work influenced economists, sociologists and agronomists, and originated the formulation of the approach known as "Recherche-développement de systèmes agraires", applied in the tropical and French contexts. Important contributions were given by authors such as Capillon and Sebillote (1980), Sebillote (1974, 1978), Brossier and Petit (1977) and Brossier et al. (1993), among many others, all working in the frame of the Institut national de la recherche agronomique (Inra), especially through the unit Systèmes agraires et développement (SAD). In the Anglophone case, the roots can be located in international research centres as Cimmity, Icta, Iita, Icarda or Irri. In these centres, which performed an important role in the so-called Green Revolution, researchers from different countries started questioning the socioeconomic impacts of the proposed technologies, as well as its degree of pertinence considering the multiple failures, particularly in more sensitive agro-ecological areas (Pillot, 1993: 24-25). Norman (1980), for instance, mentioned the growing energy costs associated to the Green Revolution technologies, and the recognition that many traditional farm practices were viable (in economic, social and environmental terms) and should be preserved. Such questioning opened the way to the formulation of the approach known as "Farming Systems Research", to which contributed authors like Ruthenberg (1971), Harwood (1979) or Norman (1980), among others. Pillot (1993, 25) underlined that in the Francophone origins the importance of human sciences was critical and the Humanist and Marxist influences were very visible, while in the Anglophone one the influence of neo-classic economics and agronomic sciences was crucial, as well as the operational and pragmatic implementation concerns. Today, it is clear that farming and rural systems research represents a constellation of systemic and interdisciplinary perspectives, as exemplified by the work of the Association of Farming Systems Research and Extension (AFSRE) which became later the International Farming Systems Association (IFSA).
Systems Thinking and Practice in Agriculture
Journal of Dairy Science, 1991
Reductionist science with its positivistic philosophical roots and experimental research practices has generally served agriculture well for around 150 yr. Technological innovations based on the propositions generated through this paradigm have played a profound role in the extraordinary productivity growth that has occurred in agriculture across the globe.
The complexity of agricultural development provides many challenges and opportunities for creative solutions. As was evident at the 2013 World Food Prize and Borlaug Dialogue, the need to intensify agricultural production sustainably is crucial to global food security and poverty reduction. As sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to develop its agricultural sector, innovations from science and technology continue to become exceedingly important in catalyzing progress. While science and technology represent powerful tools for progress in agricultural development, the social contexts in which technological advancements will be employed must be considered. Social context is important not only in the creation and adoption of innovative agricultural technologies but also in the long-term impact of developing human capital in sub-Saharan Africa. These innovations will require an interdisciplinary approach to achieve long-term and sustainable solutions that will make the most efficient use o...
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This paper discusses the principles and values behind some of the innovative agricultural research methods which have evolved over the past 30 years in many countries and suggests that the lessons from this experience could have significant benefits in the development of organic research in the UK. The author argues that the key elements which need to be incorporated into a new approach to research on organic systems are:-systemic thinking (the need for a more holistic understanding of the context of farming and rural livelihoods), interdisciplinarity, (contributions from both social and natural science in the research process) and farmerparticipation (the active participation and partnership of farmers and other key stakeholders in the process of design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating research). By incorporating these principles, both into the vision of what research can become within in the organic movement, and into the methodologies that are used in new research partnerships, it is suggested that we could learn our way towards more sustainable, organically-based rural livelihoods in the future.
Article Rethinking Study and Management of Agricultural Systems for Policy Design
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There is a concern that agriculture will no longer be able to meet, on a global scale, the growing demand for food. Facing such a challenge requires new patterns of thinking in the context of complexity and sustainability sciences. This paper, focused on the social dimension of the study and management of agricultural systems, suggests that rethinking the study of agricultural systems entails analyzing them as complex socio-ecological systems, as well as considering the differing thinking patterns of diverse stakeholders. The intersubjective nature of knowledge, as studied by different philosophical schools, needs to be better integrated into the study and management of agricultural systems than it is done so far, forcing us to accept that there are no simplistic solutions, and to seek a better understanding of the social dimension of agriculture. Different agriculture related problems require different policy and institutional approaches. Finally, the intersubjective nature of knowledge asks for the visualization of different framings and the power relations taking place in the decision-making process. Rethinking management of agricultural systems implies that policy making should be shaped by different principles:
Rethinking Study and Management of Agricultural Systems for Policy Design
Rethinking Study and Management of Agricultural Systems for Policy Design, 2013
There is a concern that agriculture will no longer be able to meet, on a global scale, the growing demand for food. Facing such a challenge requires new patterns of thinking in the context of complexity and sustainability sciences. This paper, focused on the social dimension of the study and management of agricultural systems, suggests that rethinking the study of agricultural systems entails analyzing them as complex socio-ecological systems, as well as considering the differing thinking patterns of diverse stakeholders. The intersubjective nature of knowledge, as studied by different philosophical schools, needs to be better integrated into the study and management of agricultural systems than it is done so far, forcing us to accept that there are no simplistic solutions, and to seek a better understanding of the social dimension of agriculture. Different agriculture related problems require different policy and institutional approaches. Finally, the intersubjective nature of knowledge asks for the visualization of different framings and the power relations taking place in the decision-making process. Rethinking management of agricultural systems implies that policy making should be shaped by different principles: learning, flexibility, adaptation, scale-matching, participation, diversity enhancement and precaution hold the promise to significantly improve current standard management procedures.
Mainstreaming Agroecology: Implications for Global Food and Farming Systems
2013
In 2010, the Centre for Agroecology and Food Security (CAFS) was established to undertake applied research and education on agroecology as the underlying paradigm of sustainable agriculture. This approach is required not only to ensure that all the peoples of the world are fed, but also for humanity to avoid destroying the life support system and renewable resources upon which it depends. Whilst the term 'agroecology' has been increasingly used in international circles over the past two decades, it is less used and not well-understood in the UK, even within the alternative agricultural movements. Therefore this discussion paper was written to inform not only the CAFS multidisciplinary team, but also the very broad audience of people and organisations working for change in the farming production, research and policy arenas. The discussion paper is based on an extensive literature review undertaken by researcher Marco Wibbelmann, and includes contributions by other staff and affiliates of CAFS. It was edited by Karen Brock of Green Ink. Readers are encouraged to quote or reproduce material from this discussion paper in their own publications. In return, CAFS asks for due acknowledgement. Research should address the implications of agroecological management in different cultural and environmental settings, both urban and rural, and further develop agroecological production techniques.
Sustainable Agriculture in Africa: Towards A New Paradigm – The Embeddedness Approach
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Introduction This paper argues that the conventional paradigm of sustainable agriculture{SA} in Africa has disenfranchised smallholder farmers as researchers and principal actors in the pursuit of answers to this question. Many scientists, agricultural research institutions and policymakers in Africa have conceptualised and treated SA as a technical or scientific issue – the pursuit of agricultural productivity and environmental conservation through ‘modern’ agricultural practices and techniques new or improved crop varieties, cropping patterns/methods, use of modern equipment, chemicals, pesticides, et cetera {Barrett, et al, 2000 and Pretty, 1995, for a good review of the literature on this view}. Underlying this conception are two worn out but popular assumptions: a} traditional African agriculture is inefficient, unproductive and backward, and b} the government, the donor and the scientist know what is best for the African farmer. Nobel Laureate Theodore Schultz {1964} had long ...