20 pages, via online journal, Purpose: To examine the factors that support and hinder farmers’ learning and to investigate the impact of an innovative learning program on farmers’ practice change.
Design/methodology/approach: Individual interviews and focus group discussions were held with 24 farmers over 20 months. Observations were made of these farmers as they participated with eight agricultural and social scientists in a range of innovative experiences to learn about chicory and plantain establishment and management. These learning experiences were designed around evidence-informed educational pedagogies. Data sets were analyzed using NVivo to determine common themes of affordances and barriers to learning and actual practice changes.
Findings: The affordances for learning and practice change include belonging to a learning community, enhancing self-efficacy, engaging with scientists, seeing relative advantage, reinforcing and validating learning, supporting system’s integration and developing an identity as learners. Barriers to learning and practice change include issues of: trialability, complexity, compatibility and risk.
Practical implications: The importance of basing new models of extension around evidence-informed pedagogies known through educational research to promote learning and practice change.
Theoretical implications: Sociocultural theory and self-efficacy theories of learning are critical to the success of effective agricultural extension programs.
Originality: To date, little empirical research about the affordances and barriers for pastoral farmers’ learning has been based on contemporary educational research.
Madushanka, L.S. (author), Weerasinghe, K.S. (author), Weerakkody, W.J.S.K. (author), and Department of Plantation Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), Sri Lanka
ICT Center, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), Sri Lanka
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
2017-01-23
Published:
Sri Lanka: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08140
Notes:
16th International Conference on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions, ICTer 2016; Jetwing BlueNegombo; Sri Lanka; 1 September 2016 through 3 September 2016; Category numberCFP1686L-ART; Code 126111. Article number 7829902, pp. 80-86
Mungai, Ndungi wa (author) and Seis, Colin (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2017
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08789
Notes:
Pages 223-237 in Gordon, Iain J. Prins, Herbert H.T. Squire, Geoff R. (eds.), Food production and nature conservation: conflicts and solutions. United Kingdom: Routledge, London. 348 pages.
Souza-Monteiro, D. (author), Hooker, Neal (author), and School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
The John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2017
Published:
United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd., Bingley, UK.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08103
International: CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 18 Document Number: D10515
Notes:
217 pages., Pages 177-186 in Heinz Schandl and Lain Walker (eds.), Social science and sustainability. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria,Australia. 2017. 217 pages.
Milone, Pierluigi (author), Ventura, Flaminia (author), and Swagemakers, Paul (author)
Format:
Proceedings
Publication Date:
2017
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08822
Notes:
Pages 683-703 in Rob Roggema (ed.), Agriculture in an urbanizing society volume two: proceedings of the sixth AESOP conference on sustainable food planning. United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Pages 601-1274.
International: CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 18 Document Number: D10510
Notes:
217 pages., ISBN:9781486306404, 217 pages., Social Science and Sustainability draws on the wide-ranging experience of CSIRO'S social scientists in the sustainability policy domain. These researchers have extensive experience in addressing complex issues of society-nature relationships, usually in interdisciplinary collaboration with natural scientists. This book describes some of the evidence-based concepts, frameworks and methodologies they have developed, which may guide a transition to sustainability. Contributions range from exploring ways to enhance livelihoods and alleviate poverty, to examining Australians' responses to climate change, to discussing sociological perspectives on sustainability and how to make policy relevant.
Winfield United (author), Exponent PR (author), and Colle+McVoy (author)
Format:
Online document
Publication Date:
2017
Published:
United States: Public Relations Society of America
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 8 Document Number: D10305
Notes:
3 pages., Via Silver Anvil Awards., WinField United teamed up with Exponent PR and its sister agency, Colle+McVoy, to unleash a multi-channeled communications blitz to help farmers and retailers be more efficient and sustainably connect the dots using WinField United’s proprietary precision agriculture tools and data platforms. Additionally, the team took on the challenge of telling the remarkable story of modern agriculture to the masses.
16 pages., via online journal., Synthetic biology will probably have a high impact on a variety of fields, such as healthcare, environment, biofuels, agriculture, and so on. A driving theme in European research policy is the importance of maintaining public legitimacy and support. Media can influence public attitudes and are therefore an important object of study. Through qualitative content analysis, this study investigates the press coverage of synthetic biology in the major Nordic countries between 2009 and 2014. The press coverage was found to be event-driven and there were striking similarities between countries when it comes to framing, language use, and treated themes. Reporters showed a marked dependence on their sources, mainly scientists and stakeholders, who thus drives the media agenda. The media portrayal was very positive, with an optimistic look at future benefits and very little discussion of possible risks.
Ethiopia: International Journal of Engineering Innovations and Research (IJEIR), 41, Naveen Swami Vivekanand Colony Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 021 India
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08207
Camacho-Villa, Tania Carolina (author), Almekinders, Conny (author), Hellin, Jon (author), Martinez-Cruz, Tania Eulalia (author), Rendon-Medel, Roberto (author), and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Mexico, D.F.
Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Mexico
Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas
University of Bonn, Germany
Format:
Online journal article
Publication Date:
2016-10-17
Published:
Mexico: Taylor & Francis
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 108 Document Number: D10955
17 pages, via online journal, Purpose: Little is known about effective ways to operationalize agricultural innovation processes. We use the MasAgro program in Mexico (which aims to increase maize and wheat productivity, profitability and sustainability), and the experiences of middle level ‘hub managers’, to understand how innovation processes occur in heterogeneous and changing contexts. Design/methodology/approach: We use a comparative case study analysis involving research tools such as documentary review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and reflection workshops with key actors. Findings: Our research shows how a program, that initially had a relatively narrow technology focus, evolved towards an innovation system approach. The adaptive management of such a process was in response to context-specific challenges and opportunities. In the heterogeneous context of Mexico this results in diverse ways of operationalization at the hub level, leading to different collaborating partners and technology portfolios. Practical implications: MasAgro experiences merit analysis in the light of national public efforts to transform agricultural advisory services and accommodate pluralistic agricultural extension approaches in Latin America. Such efforts need long-term coherent macro level visions, frameworks and support, while the serendipitous nature of the process requires meso-level implementers to respond and adapt to and move the innovation process forward. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the debate on how to operationalize large programs by showing that the innovation support arrangements enacted in the field should allow for diversity and have a degree of flexibility to accommodate heterogeneous demands from farmers in different contexts as well as continuous changes in the politico- institutional environment.
5 pages., via online journal., In India sustaining dairy farming as a rural livelihood and to meet the growing demand of milk, necessitates development and dissemination of technology for improving the farm’s output. There is also a need to understand how far existing innovations are adopted by farmers and factors influencing adoption and/or rejection. Hence, the factors that influence adoption and the extent of adoption were consolidated from past research using meta analysis and other techniques. It was found that at large-level farmer’s knowledge (true effect size r value +0.64) and at medium-level (true effect size r value ranging from +0.32 to +0.47) attitude, risk-taking behaviour and economic motivation, milk production and sales, education, extension agency contacts and mass media exposure influenced adoption of dairy innovation. Further, along with the above factors poor innovation attributes were limiting adoption to 55%.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 161 Document Number: D07899
Notes:
In the e-book: Kerry J. Byrnes, Giants in their realms: close encounters of the celebrity kind. Posted on the website of Okemos High School Alumni, Okemos, Michigan. 11 pages.
Ronteltap, Amber (author), Reinders, Machiel, J. (author), Van Dijk, Suzanne M. (author), Heijting, Sanne (author), Van der Lans, Ivo A. (author), and Lotz, Lambertus A. P. (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2016-08
Published:
Springer
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 7 Document Number: D10266
30 pages., Via online journal., New agrifood technologies are often difficult to grasp for the public, which may lead to resistance or even rejection. Insight into which technology features determine public acceptability of the technology could offer guidelines for responsible technology development. This paper systematically assesses the relative importance of specific technology features for consumer response in the agrifood domain in two consecutive studies. Prominent technology features were selected from expert judgment and literature. The effects of these features on consumer evaluation were tested in a consumer study (n = 745). Fictitious technologies were used to avoid any uncontrollable contextual influences that existing new technologies may evoke. Results show that technologies that were seen as more natural and newer were perceived less risky, more beneficial, and were evaluated more positively. Technologies applied to food were judged to be more beneficial, but also more risky than those applied to non-food. Technologies used in the production process were perceived to be less risky and evaluated more positively than those used in the product. Technologies owned by the market leader were perceived to be more beneficial, and evaluated more positively than those that were freely available. In a next study (n = 440), effects of the technology features on consumer response were tested for existing new agrifood technologies. This study replicated the results for perceived naturalness, perceived newness, and place in the production process where the technology is applied. However, in contrast to the first study, we did not find an effect of application area (food versus non-food) and technology ownership.
25 pages, Online journal article, Existen diferentes modelos para pensar la extensión rural. Con el fin de indagar las concepciones de extensión rural de los extensionistas que trabajan en diez diferentes países latinoamericanos se realizó una encuesta. La muestra fue no probabilística incidental (n=589). Se observa predominio de una concepción transferencista de la extensión rural en el promedio de las 10 muestras, con importantes diferencias entre países. La muestra uruguaya posee una orientación dialógica. No se observa presencia de concepciones asociadas al desarrollo local/territorial o a la noción de sistemas de innovación. Se recomienda implementar acciones para definir de manera crítica y consciente los modelos de extensión rural que se desea implementar.
Jansen, Guido (author), Cila, Nazli (author), Kanis, Marije (author), and Slaats, Yanti (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2016-05
Published:
USA: Association for Computing Machinery
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 93 Document Number: D10858
Notes:
Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings Volume 07-12-May-2016, Pages 3091-3098. 34th annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2016,, San Jose, California., Vertical farming is a promising new technology for increasing crop yields per square meter. However, little research has been done so far in people's perception of this technology. The aim of this project was to gain a better understanding of consumers' attitude on small scale vertical farming at home. This was achieved by developing a prototype that uses sensor and LED technology for growing food at home and deploying it in a user study. The prototype was built to give users a genuine feeling of what it would be like to use a small scale vertical farming system. The user study showed that the attitudes towards the system were mostly positive. However, a fully autonomous system is not desirable and there are concerns regarding food safety.
Xin, Jiannong (author), Zazueta, Fedro (author), and Office of Information Technology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Office of the CIO, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2016
Published:
USA: International Commission of Agricultural Engineering
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 164 Document Number: D08241
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 151 Document Number: D06772
Notes:
The document also identifies a link to this video production aired on national television, "Landline," at the weekend celebrating the 70th anniversary of rural programming on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation., Script via online from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 pages.
Glenn, B.P. (author), Randel, L. (author), Zimbelman, R.G. (author), Culp, A. (author), and National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Arlington, VA
The Randel Group, Alexandria, VA
Georgetown, TX
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2015-07-16
Published:
USA: Glenn, Randel, Zimbelman and Culp
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 164 Document Number: D08218
Knierim, Andrea (author) and Prager, Katrin (author)
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
2015-07
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 149 Document Number: D06722
Notes:
Online via Proakis.com.eu. 4 pages., "Overall, the analysis revealed that European AKIS are characterised by a mix of public and private actors, and there are no countries where only public actors dominate the knowledge system."
Young, Jeff (author), Burgy, Beth (author), Fleck, Laurie (author), Perrin, Mark (author), Oliver, Tim (author), Steever, Sara (author), Martin, Diane (author), and Hansen, Dave (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2015-05
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D06160
