Sustainable feeding of the growing population in China without ecological destabilization is a grand challenge. In this populous country where agriculture is dominated by smallholder farming, developing innovative tec...Sustainable feeding of the growing population in China without ecological destabilization is a grand challenge. In this populous country where agriculture is dominated by smallholder farming, developing innovative technology and translating scientific knowledge into action for smallholder farmers is a crucial step in addressing this challenge. Here, we present a novel approach for technology innovation and dissemination to achieve sustainable intensification in the fields of smallholder farmers. The Science and Technology Backyard(STB) is a hub in a rural area that links knowledge with practices to promote technology innovation and exchange. In this study, the framework and functions of STB are introduced, and the key implications for sustainable intensification across millions of smallholder farmers are explicitly stated:(i) develop innovative technology based on stated demands of farmers;(ii) disseminate technology by innovative social service models though combined top-down approaches with bottom-up measures to enable smallholders in rural areas. This paper provides a perspective on transformation of small-scale agriculture toward sustainable intensification in China and useful knowledge applicable to other developing countries.展开更多
Agricultural innovation can be described as a coevolutionary process of technological innovation,symbolic change,and social or institutional innovation,which relies on the interactions and collaboration between multip...Agricultural innovation can be described as a coevolutionary process of technological innovation,symbolic change,and social or institutional innovation,which relies on the interactions and collaboration between multiple stakeholders.This view emphasizes the significance of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation.Many studies have provided evidence on how innovation intermediaries play roles in supporting the coevolution innovation process at a broader innovation system level.However,little emphasis has been given to the role of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level in rural China.To address this research gap,this paper offers a case study of a novel type of innovation support intervention designed to promote technical change at the community level,the Science and Technology Backyard(STB).The paper focuses on the efforts of a specific STB in Wangzhuang village to promote innovation in tillage methods in wheat production.The aims was to examine the role of this newly emerging innovation support intervention in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level,and compare the outcome of the coevolution process in the village with an STB to that in villages without an STB.Innovation journey analysis is applied to understand the evolved intermediation roles in the innovation process,and multivariate regression analysis is employed to assess the outcome of the coevolution process in villages with and without an STB.The findings suggest that the roles of STBs have evolved from knowledge brokers to systemic innovation intermediaries that facilitate the coevolution process of innovation inside an STB village.It has led to a higher adoption rate of improved technology,a better enabling environment for learning,and more effective institutional support in STB villages than in non-STB villages.However,the effect of support provided by a single STB on the coevolution process outside the community was limited.This finding points to a need for collaboration mechanisms and for connecting single STBs to support the coevolution process of innovation at a larger scale.展开更多
Sustainable food production to feed the growing population in Africa remains a major challenge.Africa has 64%of the global arable land but produces less than 10%of its food locally due to its inherently low soil nutri...Sustainable food production to feed the growing population in Africa remains a major challenge.Africa has 64%of the global arable land but produces less than 10%of its food locally due to its inherently low soil nutrient concentrations.Poor soil fertility and a lack of fertilizer use are the major constraints to increasing crop yields in Africa.On average only about 8.8 kg NPK fertilizer is applied per hectare by African smallholder farmers.There is therefore considerable potential for increasing food production through sustainable intensification of the cropping systems.The low crop yields in Africa are also partly due to limited farmer access to modern agronomic techniques,including improved crop varieties,a lack of financial resources,and the absence of mechanisms for dissemination of information to smallholders.This study analyzed the Science and Technology Backyards(STBs)model and investigated its use for the transformation of agriculture in Africa.Some key lessons for sustainable crop intensification in Africa can be found from analysis of the STB model which is well established in China.These include(1)scientist-farmer engagement to develop adaptive and innovative technology for sustainable crop production,(2)dissemination of technology by empowering smallholders,especially leading farmers,and(3)the development of an open platform for multiple resource involvement rather than relying on a single mechanism.This review evaluates the benefits of the STB model used in China for adoption to increase agricultural productivity in Africa,with a perspective on sustainable crop intensification on the continent.展开更多
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2015CB150405)
文摘Sustainable feeding of the growing population in China without ecological destabilization is a grand challenge. In this populous country where agriculture is dominated by smallholder farming, developing innovative technology and translating scientific knowledge into action for smallholder farmers is a crucial step in addressing this challenge. Here, we present a novel approach for technology innovation and dissemination to achieve sustainable intensification in the fields of smallholder farmers. The Science and Technology Backyard(STB) is a hub in a rural area that links knowledge with practices to promote technology innovation and exchange. In this study, the framework and functions of STB are introduced, and the key implications for sustainable intensification across millions of smallholder farmers are explicitly stated:(i) develop innovative technology based on stated demands of farmers;(ii) disseminate technology by innovative social service models though combined top-down approaches with bottom-up measures to enable smallholders in rural areas. This paper provides a perspective on transformation of small-scale agriculture toward sustainable intensification in China and useful knowledge applicable to other developing countries.
基金supported by China Scholarship Council(201913043)Agricultural Carbon Neutral Account Establishment Program in Quzhou(202127).
文摘Agricultural innovation can be described as a coevolutionary process of technological innovation,symbolic change,and social or institutional innovation,which relies on the interactions and collaboration between multiple stakeholders.This view emphasizes the significance of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation.Many studies have provided evidence on how innovation intermediaries play roles in supporting the coevolution innovation process at a broader innovation system level.However,little emphasis has been given to the role of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level in rural China.To address this research gap,this paper offers a case study of a novel type of innovation support intervention designed to promote technical change at the community level,the Science and Technology Backyard(STB).The paper focuses on the efforts of a specific STB in Wangzhuang village to promote innovation in tillage methods in wheat production.The aims was to examine the role of this newly emerging innovation support intervention in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level,and compare the outcome of the coevolution process in the village with an STB to that in villages without an STB.Innovation journey analysis is applied to understand the evolved intermediation roles in the innovation process,and multivariate regression analysis is employed to assess the outcome of the coevolution process in villages with and without an STB.The findings suggest that the roles of STBs have evolved from knowledge brokers to systemic innovation intermediaries that facilitate the coevolution process of innovation inside an STB village.It has led to a higher adoption rate of improved technology,a better enabling environment for learning,and more effective institutional support in STB villages than in non-STB villages.However,the effect of support provided by a single STB on the coevolution process outside the community was limited.This finding points to a need for collaboration mechanisms and for connecting single STBs to support the coevolution process of innovation at a larger scale.
基金This work was supported by the China Scholarship Council(201913043)the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation(OPP1209192)the“Sino-Africa Friendship”China Government Scholarship(2019-1442).
文摘Sustainable food production to feed the growing population in Africa remains a major challenge.Africa has 64%of the global arable land but produces less than 10%of its food locally due to its inherently low soil nutrient concentrations.Poor soil fertility and a lack of fertilizer use are the major constraints to increasing crop yields in Africa.On average only about 8.8 kg NPK fertilizer is applied per hectare by African smallholder farmers.There is therefore considerable potential for increasing food production through sustainable intensification of the cropping systems.The low crop yields in Africa are also partly due to limited farmer access to modern agronomic techniques,including improved crop varieties,a lack of financial resources,and the absence of mechanisms for dissemination of information to smallholders.This study analyzed the Science and Technology Backyards(STBs)model and investigated its use for the transformation of agriculture in Africa.Some key lessons for sustainable crop intensification in Africa can be found from analysis of the STB model which is well established in China.These include(1)scientist-farmer engagement to develop adaptive and innovative technology for sustainable crop production,(2)dissemination of technology by empowering smallholders,especially leading farmers,and(3)the development of an open platform for multiple resource involvement rather than relying on a single mechanism.This review evaluates the benefits of the STB model used in China for adoption to increase agricultural productivity in Africa,with a perspective on sustainable crop intensification on the continent.
