The document evaluates the Innovative Farmers Programme, highlighting its farmer-led co-innovation model and the process of learning and research collaboration. Key findings indicate that participating farmers value the program for fostering sustainable innovations and that impacts on farm management are gradually being recognized. Challenges include aligning research needs with practical farming applications and increasing researcher awareness among farmers.

1. Learning how to
evaluate learning
together while
learning together,
evaluating the
Innovative Farmers
programme
Matt Reed, Julie Ingram, Jane Mills + Jasmine Black

2. CCRI Research
on advising
farmers
2008
Advice to DEFRA on how
to influence farmers
2008
2013
Included in more recent
calls by industry about
advice and knowledge
development
(Agricultural Industries
Confederation ‘Value of
Advice Report’
2014
OECD ‘Soft Measures’
2014
Evaluation of ‘Duchy
Original Future Farmers’
2015
Since 2015 evaluators of
‘Innovative Farmers’
Programme,

3. IF overview
Farmer led with facilitators and researchers – co-
innovation
Small groups, initially organic but now spreading
quickly beyond…
We as researchers are interested in the process..
The farmers start by being interested in the outcomes
but a small group of those interested in the process.
First researcher guided labs are reporting results and
discussing practical consequences

4. Objectives
1 - Farmer
Subscribers
reporting Change
(PWCF and AHDB).
2 – Case studies of
farm business
impact (AHDB).
3 – Case studies of
researchers
learning through
working with
farmers and
research translation
(BBSRC).
4 – Increasing
awareness of
BBSRC amongst
farmers in
Innovative Farmers
(BBSRC).

5. Strands of research
Strand Format Research Targets Rationale Method
1. Wide participation
survey
Small number of simple,
direct questions
Whole subscriber network To give a broad understanding
of the network’s impact and
relevance
IF & CCRI team
2. In-depth interviews Similar approach to previous
evaluations of set questions
Members from progressing
Field Labs
Gain greater insight to the
learning and progress the
groups are making
CCRI & IF team
3. Farm business impact Case studies focussing on the
business rationale for farmers
getting involved
Farmers involved in the AHDB
funded Field Labs.
Target 5 (min.) case studies
Gain clearer understanding as
to the reasons farmers are
working in this model and
what it means to their
business.
CCRI
4. Research impact Case studies focussing on the
impact of researchers working
directly with groups
Researchers from academic
institutions (current or prior
recipients of BBSRC funding)
Target 3 case studies
Gain understanding of the
value of peer knowledge
exchange, research
translation, and insights in to
challenges first hand.
CCRI

6. Have you
learnt
anything from
Field Labs?
6.50%
24.00%
52.50%
17.50%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Learnt nothing new Not a great deal Some new learning Significant new learning

7. FL Farmers
only

8. What are the
benefits of
learning in this
way?
(interviews)
11
1
6
3
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Researcher
Non-commercial
Sharing knowledge
Local knowledge

9. Are you doing
anything
differently
because of
the FL?
11
3
6
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Yes No Planning Too early No answer

10. Outcomes
• 1 - Farmer Subscribers reporting Change (PWCF and AHDB).
• Innovative Farmers is highly valued by the farmers in their pursuit of sustainable innovations, reinforcing their identities in
being able to effect change and validating their efforts.
• 2 – Case studies of farm business impact (AHDB).
• Impacts on farm businesses are manifested through incremental changes in management focused on efficiency rather than
profitability directly. These are taking time to become apparent and may experience lags as Field Labs take time to become
established.
• 3 – Case studies of researchers learning through working with farmers and research translation (BBSRC).
• For the researchers participating it is allowing them to achieve a key goal of co-creating research with stakeholders so
meeting personal and institutional goals. Challenges remain, such as peer-review, but the researchers are learning to work
with farmers effectively in the field.
• 4 – Increasing awareness of BBSRC amongst farmers in Innovative Farmers (BBSRC).
• A quarter of those farmers participating recognise the BBSRC but the findings in Stream 2 in particular point to messages
that would resonate with farmers and offer ways in which awareness could be raised.

11. Areas for
future
discussion
Researchers positive, but a process of
mutual learning
Competing conceptions of evidence –
‘good enough’ through to ‘publishable’
Experimental design – learning to make
trials ‘farmer friendly’
Tailored answers for specific farming
problems