Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Regarding the 'visions compilation' step, despite the fact that most participants
validated the results achieved, several indicated that the way it was organized decreased the
motivation of participants to continue. As demonstrated through the visioning process in
many countries, passive interaction tools, such as emails and written documents, may be
considered to have minor co-construction capacity.
The final workshop was designed specifically to facilitate a participatory
transdisciplinary exercise, as it included interaction between members of all groups, NSPG
members and researchers. Several researchers expressed difficulty in joining the discussion
as participants, and the remaining participants expressed some difficulty in considering the
researchers as participants, especially when they were in disagreement. Researchers were
seen as those 'who know', 'who have the knowledge', and therefore were hard to
contradict. Since most formal transdisciplinary projects are promoted by science partners,
this suggests the need for better preparation on the part of researchers so that the power of
academic knowledge is in balance with others, and also that the role of the scientist in the
process is understood. In addition, it is important to engage professional facilitators in
participatory methods, so that researchers can fully engage in the process.
The evaluation by participants in all countries concluded that the transdisciplinary
process created engagement and in-depth discussions. However, participants began the
process with highly variable levels of experience of transdisciplinarity. Where there was
previous experience of involvement, particularly in European projects, participants showed
some fatigue in relation to this kind of project. In others, the novelty of the process, and in
particular the European dimension, has raised great interest. As previously described by
authors such as Brandt
et al
. (2013), and as found in this research, willingness to participate
and consistency of participation rely on a common agenda defined with the involvement of
all participants. However, such common agendas require the novel design of research
projects, with the use of different strategies and methods established together at the outset,
which may not be possible in existing research frameworks.
Creating a parallel to the multi-level perspective (MLP), transdisciplinarity can be seen
as a niche in an anchoring process within the established regime of science and research.
Multiple linkages are established between different niches, sub-regimes and the regime.
This also includes a pattern of interactions between science and society that is not yet
established and may, in some cases, hinder the outcomes of transdisciplinary efforts.
How can transdisciplinarity support transitions to sustainability in
agriculture?
The transdisciplinary process developed within FarmPath has been conducted over a
relatively short timescale, therefore an overarching assessment of its impacts is not possible
to undertake at the time of writing. However, it has empowered local participants, leading
to a greater awareness of their possible roles in a potential transition. In addition, it has led
to the acknowledgment by practitioners that links to science can be useful and inspiring,
and are easily established. Furthermore, and what may be more interesting, this experience
has revealed to researchers how interaction with practitioners can be achieved, and how
fruitful it can prove to be. It is not feasible to assess how researchers have changed, but
from the evidence gathered and the reports delivered, it can be concluded that a more
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