A new professionalism for agricultural research for development

There have been repeated calls for a ‘new professionalism’ for carrying out agricultural research for development since the 1990s. At the centre of these calls is a recognition that for agricultural research to support the capacities required to face global patterns of change and their implications...

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Main Authors: Douthwaite, Boru, Apgar, J.M., Schwarz, Anne-Maree, Attwood, S., Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali, Clayton, T.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83364
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author Douthwaite, Boru
Apgar, J.M.
Schwarz, Anne-Maree
Attwood, S.
Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali
Clayton, T.
author_browse Apgar, J.M.
Attwood, S.
Clayton, T.
Douthwaite, Boru
Schwarz, Anne-Maree
Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali
author_facet Douthwaite, Boru
Apgar, J.M.
Schwarz, Anne-Maree
Attwood, S.
Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali
Clayton, T.
author_sort Douthwaite, Boru
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description There have been repeated calls for a ‘new professionalism’ for carrying out agricultural research for development since the 1990s. At the centre of these calls is a recognition that for agricultural research to support the capacities required to face global patterns of change and their implications on rural livelihoods, requires a more systemic, learning focused and reflexive practice that bridges epistemologies and methodologies. In this paper, we share learning from efforts to mainstream such an approach through a large, multi-partner CGIAR research program working in aquatic agricultural systems. We reflect on four years of implementing research in development (RinD), the program’s approach to the new professionalism. We highlight successes and challenges and describe the key characteristics that define the approach. We conclude it is possible to build a program on a broader approach that embraces multidisciplinarity and engages with stakeholders in social-ecological systems. Our experience also suggests caution is required to ensure there is the time, space and appropriate evaluation methodologies in place to appreciate outcomes different to those to which conventional agricultural research aspires.
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language Inglés
publishDate 2017
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spelling CGSpace833642025-05-20T08:27:24Z A new professionalism for agricultural research for development Douthwaite, Boru Apgar, J.M. Schwarz, Anne-Maree Attwood, S. Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali Clayton, T. agricultural research research and development professionalism research organizations research programmes aquatic environment agricultural systems participatory approaches community involvement partnerships stakeholders scientists farmers capacity building gender equity green revolution case studies monitoring evaluation There have been repeated calls for a ‘new professionalism’ for carrying out agricultural research for development since the 1990s. At the centre of these calls is a recognition that for agricultural research to support the capacities required to face global patterns of change and their implications on rural livelihoods, requires a more systemic, learning focused and reflexive practice that bridges epistemologies and methodologies. In this paper, we share learning from efforts to mainstream such an approach through a large, multi-partner CGIAR research program working in aquatic agricultural systems. We reflect on four years of implementing research in development (RinD), the program’s approach to the new professionalism. We highlight successes and challenges and describe the key characteristics that define the approach. We conclude it is possible to build a program on a broader approach that embraces multidisciplinarity and engages with stakeholders in social-ecological systems. Our experience also suggests caution is required to ensure there is the time, space and appropriate evaluation methodologies in place to appreciate outcomes different to those to which conventional agricultural research aspires. 2017-05-04 2017-09-08T09:10:15Z 2017-09-08T09:10:15Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83364 en Open Access Informa UK Limited Douthwaite, B.; Apgar, J. M.; Schwarz, A.-M.; Attwood, S.; Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali; Clayton, T. 2017. A new professionalism for agricultural research for development. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 15(3):238-252. doi: 10.1080/14735903.2017.1314754
spellingShingle agricultural research
research and development
professionalism
research organizations
research programmes
aquatic environment
agricultural systems
participatory approaches
community involvement
partnerships
stakeholders
scientists
farmers
capacity building
gender equity
green revolution
case studies
monitoring
evaluation
Douthwaite, Boru
Apgar, J.M.
Schwarz, Anne-Maree
Attwood, S.
Senaratna Sellamuttu, Sonali
Clayton, T.
A new professionalism for agricultural research for development
title A new professionalism for agricultural research for development
title_full A new professionalism for agricultural research for development
title_fullStr A new professionalism for agricultural research for development
title_full_unstemmed A new professionalism for agricultural research for development
title_short A new professionalism for agricultural research for development
title_sort new professionalism for agricultural research for development
topic agricultural research
research and development
professionalism
research organizations
research programmes
aquatic environment
agricultural systems
participatory approaches
community involvement
partnerships
stakeholders
scientists
farmers
capacity building
gender equity
green revolution
case studies
monitoring
evaluation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83364
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