Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
organisations brings with it different approaches to research and to the promulgation of
research results. The attitudes and cultures of both individual researchers and organisations
are important in determining research approaches, interpretation of research findings and
efficiency of transfer of research results to the end-user community. Linkages between non-
governmental and governmental organisations have been particularly recognised as valuable
within the organic farming sector in developing countries (Shrum 2000). As with all agricul-
tural research, the nature and direction of research is perhaps most strongly inf luenced by the
source of funding.
Scientists working within state-funded organisations, where research is carried out on
several types of farming systems, may find themselves faced with different challenges to those
working in 'organic-only' institutes (Watson and Atkinson 2002). Wynen (1997) notes that
few 'career scientists' have chosen to get involved in organic farming as there is a lack of recog-
nition of the validity of the subject among the conventional science community. The existence
of organisations like the Danish Research Centre for Organic Farming (DARCOF), and the
growing involvement of universities and conventional institutes in organic research, is
changing this attitude slowly. For organisations with multiple interests there are physical and
human resource implications to organic farming research. Alongside the investment in
research facilities for systems research and long-term experiments, there is likely to be a need
to duplicate equipment and personnel where systems are fundamentally incompatible. For
example, where the same organisation is researching both genetically modified organisms and
organic farming, there are both ethical and practical reasons for running two entirely separate
research teams.
Multifunctional organisations that traditionally have had a responsibility for technology
transfer in addition to research may have taken a different approach to organisations with a
sole focus on research. For example, for those working directly with farmers, research aimed at
understanding and improving organic farming is likely to be more important than compari-
sons between different systems. However, the paradigm shift towards end-user relevance and
stakeholder involvement in research is resulting in changes in approach among the more tradi-
tional research organisations.
Research training and education
Despite the rigours of scientific training, the culture of the organisation and the nature of the
individual scientists involved will inf luence both research design and data interpretation. In
aiming to understand something as complex as the functioning of systems, the scope for dif-
ferent interpretations of experimental data is likely to be greater than in reductionist experi-
mentation. Scientific training at tertiary level tends to include a high degree of specialisation
and encourages monodisciplinary rather than interdisciplinary thinking. Scientists need to be
able to contribute not only from their own disciplines but also to recognise the disciplinary
part of the bigger jigsaw, as well as being able to 'step outside their own discipline when it
becomes a hindrance rather than a help' (Lockeretz 2000). There is a need to address training
needs of researchers involved in organic farming to ensure that they do understand the systems
within which they are working. Teams where systems thinkers and disciplinary thinkers can
work effectively as one are needed.
On the use of conentional research in an organic context
Research on organic farming is often, correctly, focused on the development of systems that
prevent problems such as pests, diseases or nutrient shortages. Contrastingly much conven-
tional research has focused on finding short-term interventionist solutions to such problems.
The commodity based thinking prevalent in agriculture has also contributed to this paradigm.
