Keeping the organic system learning: The role of …...Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD...
17
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA Keeping the organic system learning: The role of organic farmers’ experiments Christian R. Vogl Susanne Kummer Friedrich Leitgeb Supported by Christoph Schunko & Magdalena Aigner Working Group Knowledge Systems and Innovations Research funded by
Transcript of Keeping the organic system learning: The role of …...Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD...
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Keeping the organic system learning: The role of organic farmers’ experiments
Christian R. Vogl Susanne Kummer Friedrich Leitgeb Supported by Christoph Schunko & Magdalena Aigner Working Group Knowledge Systems and Innovations
Research funded by
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Please be aware that this only a short version of the oral paper given. The original paper
includes aspects that will be only published in the conference proceedings later.
2
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Farmers` experiments
Farmers’ experiments (FE) build up local knowledge (Sumberg and Okali, 1997)
Importance of local knowledge for sustainable development (IAASTD, 2009)
Development of farming systems due to continuous experimentation of farmers (Hoffmann et al., 2007)
Strategies to adapt farms to changing conditions (Bentley, 2006)
Lack of advice and research in pioneer phase of organic farming: culture of experimentation (Padel, 2001; Gerber et al., 1996)
Most research in development context (e.g. Chambers et al., 1989; Van Veldhuizen et al., 1997; Reij & Waters-Bayer, 2001)
3
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Definition – Farmers Experiments
Trying or introducing something new at the farm, including evaluation (Quiroz, 1999). Evaluating, developing or modifying something
at farm level (e.g. Pretty 1991) Comparing something known to something
unknown (Stolzenbach, 1999). “Key process in the history of farming”
4
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Creating local knowledge
Austria, Cuba, Israel, 3 years research project, PhD and MSc theses, ~ 300 Interviews with organic farmers & steakholders; How is new knowledge generated? On which topics? Sources of ideas? By which methods? Including planning, monitoring, evaluation? Outcomes? Knowledge sharing?
5
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Topics of FE in Austria
Cropping, soil & weed & pest & fertilizer management;
Animal husbandry & feeding; Commercialization; tools, machinery,
construction, labor management;
social issues such as organization, cooperation and trust building.
6
3 3
4 4 4
6 6
7 9 9
10 11
17 18
23
0 5 10 15 20 25
OthersFeeding
Labour management / reductionConstructionSocial issues
FertilizationTools and machinery
Alternative remedies and supplementsWeed and pest management
Vegetable, fruit and wine growingTillage, soil management
CommercializationProcessing
Animal husbandryCropping, plant production
Frequency of mention
Frequency of topics for farmers’ experiments in Austria according to thematic clusters (134 experiments discussed in SEM-I and STR-Q interviews, n=123)
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA 7
Methods of farmers’ experiments Austria
Planning: 69% have explicit plan (13% written, 56% mental plan)
63% set up experiments on small scale
Kinds of monitoring: observations (88%) comparisons (82%) measurements (13%)
Comparisons %
With own experiences 79%
With other farmers 64%
With other unit on the farm 27%
With results from literature 23%
With information of advisors
11%
Frequency of comparison strategies (STR-Q; n=76, 8 non-experimenters, Austria 68=100%; multiple answers possible)
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Cuba
“experimenting” & “inventing” or “trying” frequently used terms; Response to economic
crisis; Competition; Awards.
8
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA 9
“Every farmer lives experimenting.” MedNar
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Topics
10
“There is the red radish and the white radish and
we were searching for the best variety for this
soil.” JosPer
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Motives
11
Motives: fun > urgent need;
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Farmers’ methods - scale
Small scale
90%
Minimizing risks
Gathering experience
Large scale
10%
Convinced of success
Low risk estimated
12
“When I get a new seed, I sow it on a small plot to observe it.” PabTor
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Farmers’ methods – observations
Process observation
89%
Assessing the experiments’ performance
Gathering experiences
Systemic observation
11%
Specific parameters
under review
Regular assessment
13
“That’s day by day. As you have it so
close, you observe it, you watch it, you
look at it day by day.” LasPim
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Farmers’ methods – observation
Comparison
60%
On the own farm
With another farmer
14
“You sow different varieties and then you compare it to
your traditional one.” LasPim
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Farmers’ methods – documentation
Memory
74%
Simple experiments
too much effort
Written notes
26%
Complex experiments
Measuring specific
parameters
15
“I have some notes, but I do not have statistics.
I am bad in writing things down but I have
it in mind, more or less.” PabTor
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Outcomes
3% 1% 1% 1% 1%
3% 3%
4% 4%
7% 7%
10% 11%
13% 13%
18% 19% 19%
21% 21%
25% 25%
29% 35%
44%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Negative outcomesStability of yield
Improvement of farm managementMore quality of life
Personal satisfactionMultiple use
Better seed conservationIndependency from climatic conditions
More work saftyImproved personal health
Enhanced soil fertilityImproved animal health
Quality improvement of farm productsSocial reputation
Easy to useBetter taste and culinary diversity
Enhanced resource efficiencyMore knowledge and experience
Improved sustainabilityWork easment
Economic benefitsImproved plant health
Enhanced working efficiencyIncreased self suffiency
Improved productivity
Frequency of mention of outcomes (n=72; 100%=the total of all answers given by the respondents; multiple answers possible)
Out
com
es
Vogl et al. 2014 I 1 & 2 of Nov. 2014 I OECD - Conference Innovations in Organic Food Systems – Long Beach, CA, USA
Related publications
LEITGEB, F., KUMMER, S., FUNES-MONZOTE, F.R., VOGL, C. R. (2012): Farmers‘ Experiments in Cuba. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 29(1) 48-64
KUMMER, S., R. MILESTAD, F. LEITGEB & C. R. VOGL (2012): Building Resilience Through Farmers’ Experiments In Organic Agriculture: Examples From Eastern Austria. Sustainable Agriculture Research; Vol. 1, No. 2; 308-321.
LEITGEB F.; FUNES-MONZOTE, F.R.; KUMMER S.; VOGL, C.R. (2011): Contribution of farmers' experiments and innovations to Cuba's agricultural innovation system. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 26(4): 354-367.
LEITGEB, F., SANZ, E., KUMMER, S., NINIO, R. & VOGL, C.R. (2008): La discusión académica sobre experimentos de agricultores (farmers’ experiments) – una síntesis Academic discussion about farmers’ experiments – a synthesis. Pastos y Forrajes 31 (1) 3-24.
Vogl, C.R.; Kilcher, L.; Schmidt, H. (2005): Are standards and regulations of organic farming moving away from small farmers’ knowledge? Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 26, 5-26.
KUMMER, S., F. LEITGEB & C. R. VOGL (under review): Farmers’ own research: The example of organic farmers’ experiments in Austria.
NINIO, R. (expected 2015): Organic farmers Experiments in Israel. Dr. Thesis. BOKU. 17
