This document discusses improving the pathway from agricultural research to real-world development. It presents a simplified model showing that the process is not linear, but involves feedback loops between components of an innovation system. The implications are that science approaches need to consider interactions between various components, move away from only considering individual factors, and use new collaborative approaches like co-learning. Institutional changes are also needed, such as working with more partners, revising incentives and processes, and developing efficient and inclusive cooperation.

1. Photo: Michel Traverse
From Research to Real Development:
What do we need to change to
achieve success?
Philip Dobie
World Agroforestry Centre
University College Cork
Sinead Mowlds
University College Cork

2. New Models for Research and
Development
• The science to development pathway is not
linear and involves important feedback loops
• Agricultural science is part of an innovations
system

3. From Research to Impact:
A simplified model of applied
agricultural research

5. Heironymus
Bosch
Idea
courtesy
of Cosma
Shalizi,
Carnegie
Mellon

6. Implications for Science
Approaches need to:
• Consider the various components and their
interactions
• Move away from the “supermarket” approach
• Use and develop new approaches e.g. colearning

7. agroforestry options to
improve, food security,
nutrition, livelihood and
environment
+
effective delivery
mechanisms for these
options including well
functioning markets
Initial matrices of
agroforestry options and
contextual factors that
affect their suitability
(soils, climate, farming
system, planting niche,
resource availability,
institutions etc )
Simple to use tools to
match agroforestry
options to sites and
circumstances across the
scaling domain
refined
options
Interpretation of
performance data to refine
matrices of agroforestry
options and
characterisation
+
an appropriate enabling
policy and institutional
environment
Characterise variation in
drivers of adoption (context)
across scaling domain
refined
characterization
Participatory monitoring and
evaluation system for the
performance of options
Influence development
projects so that best-fit
options are offered to
farmers across a range
of variation in context

8. Institutional Implications
• Work with a broader range of partners
• Review the incentives system for scientists
• Blend scientific and development funding
• Revise monitoring and evaluation processes
• Develop efficient, inclusive cooperation
processes

9. Thank you!