The document outlines a research agenda for socio-technical innovation in agri-food systems, emphasizing co-production between researchers and social actors to address shared challenges for sustainability. It discusses the need for novel ideas and methodologies to enhance resilience in agricultural practices, while examining governance and adoption dynamics of these innovations. The author advocates for a holistic approach that considers natural capital, shared societal values, and the interactive effects of change drivers.

1. Socio-technical
innovation in agri-
food systems
A research agenda

2. The co-production and practical application of new ideas
by researchers and social actors, coordinated through
institutions in safe places where these ideas can be
tested and refined (‘niches’), which when widely adopted
(often in response to some sort of new problem), have
the capacity to disrupt stable societal structures and
norms (the ‘socio-technical regime’), so that society can
transition to a new way of doing things (e.g. from fossil
fuel to renewable energy systems).
What is socio-technical innovation?

3.  The theory and practice of socio-technical
innovation as a co-productive process with
social actors for social good
My emphasis
 More simply: how can
researchers work with
stakeholders to come up
with new ideas that can
solve shared problems
for a more sustainable
world?

4. Do we need new and better ideas?
Or do we need new and better ways
of coming up with ideas?

5.  Enhance the resilience of agri-food systems
and multi-functional rural environments in a
rapidly changing world
My Vision

6. My Vision
 Change the way researchers around the world
(co-)generate and apply knowledge to
generate impacts in agri-food systems, and
every other area of academic endeavor

7.  Excellence with a purpose
 In a word: empathy
 In a picture…
My Approach

8. How can we develop a more
holistic approach to
sustainable food production
that more effectively
considers:
1. The resilience of natural capital
(including soil health) &
ecosystem services (including
cultural) in response to the
interactive effects of multiple
drivers of change?
Research questions
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9. 2. How we value agri-food systems, including the full
range of values that are shared by different groups in
society (using monetary, non-monetary & deliberative
techniques), to prioritise options for policy & practice
Research questions

10. 3. How do governance mechanisms, including
institutions, influence the way social actors interact
with each other and agri-food systems, to boost
production whilst minimising environmental impacts?
Research questions

11. 4. How can we more
effectively co-produce
innovations between
researchers and actors
within the agri-food
system, so we can
devise new policy
instruments and other
governance
mechanisms that can
drive sustainability?
Research questions

12. 5. What factors influence the adoption of innovations in
agri-food systems, and how do the dynamics of trust
(across space, time, social groups and culture)
explain how innovations are adopted through social
learning?
Research questions

13. Institute for
Sustainability
SAgE Faculty
AFRD School
CRE
My
research

14.  Funded: EU Horizon
2020. Soil Care for
profitable and
sustainable crop
production in Europe
(€403,000 WP leader in
€5M project)
Interdisciplinary funding plan (2016/17)

15.  Under review: ESRC.
Pathways to policy
impact: learning from
submissions to the UK
Research Excellence
Framework (PI with
Universities of Dundee
and St Andrews,
£770,000)
Interdisciplinary funding plan (2016/17)

16.  Planned with Leeds: Horizon 2020. Understand
barriers and opportunities for the adoption of
schemes that spatially target private and public
funding for the delivery of ecosystem services
at landscape scales (€5M)
Interdisciplinary funding plan (2016/17)
 Planned with Leeds:
tender for work under
EU LIFE peatland bid
(€0.5-1M)

17.  Building interdisciplinary
teams for funded projects
with Newcastle and N8
collaborators
 Newcastle and N8 writing
collaborations
 Capacity building and
mentoring for
interdisciplinary
excellence with purpose
Building a socio-technical innovation
research team

18.  Socio-technical
innovation narrative
including 4* papers and
impact case studies as
part of an even higher
performing UOA16
submission
Building a socio-technical innovation
research team

19. Conclusion

21. fieldworkfail.com