117
Examples as to how academia is moving toward greater public engagement come
from diverse sources. These include public sociology (Feagin et al. 2015) and public history (Cauvin 2016) that advocate study in pursuit of social justice. Connecting
the public with biophysical research includes citizen science, whereby laypeople
are recruited to collect data on research projects in a form of social inclusion and
empowerment (Cavalier and Kennedy 2016).
Linking Research with the Public in the Global South
Given the massive challenges limiting the growth of crop and animal agriculture in
the Global South, it is ironic that strong, integrated systems of applied research
with extension have still not emerged to a significant extent. A general lack of
financial resources and the need for institutional reforms are two reasons why this
situation has occurred.
9
Applied research has typically been conducted via government agencies or at international centers,
10
while extension has often been delegated either to other governmental or non-governmental organizations (GOs,
NGOs). Applied research conducted by government is often restricted to field stations where experiments can be conducted, but replication of on-farm conditions is
limited. Universities typically do not play a role in fostering agricultural extension
services in the Global South, as few (if any) systems similar to the US land-grant
model have been created.
In any case, when they exist, extension agents in the Global South may struggle
in terms of effectiveness and having sustained, positive impacts on producer communities.
11
Lack of budget to regularly interact with producers is a common problem, negatively affecting transportation and other operational needs; this is
especially evident in the under-resourced drylands. Extension agents often follow a
“top-down” approach where input from beneficiaries is typically minimal in shaping the extension agenda. Beneficiaries are often seen as passive recipients of extension technology or information. In some countries government extension can even
be politicized, with extension agents spending time indoctrinating clients on political matters in addition to filling their role as providers of technical advice. The
NGOs—both national and international—usually have more financial resources
than the GOs, but the former also have mixed records of success. The development
agenda pursued by NGOs can also be “top down” in that they advocate for the priorities of their international donors who may have little knowledge of on-the-ground
realities (Derr 2018). In addition, NGOs may have few (if any) open lines of
9 http://www.fao.org/3/a-y2709e.pdf.
10 Such as the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR). https://www.
cgiar.org/.
11 D. L. Coppock, personal observations.
7 Public Participation Approaches for a New Era in Dryland Science and Stewardship…
Examples as to how academia is moving toward greater public engagement come
from diverse sources. These include public sociology (Feagin et al. 2015) and public history (Cauvin 2016) that advocate study in pursuit of social justice. Connecting
the public with biophysical research includes citizen science, whereby laypeople
are recruited to collect data on research projects in a form of social inclusion and
empowerment (Cavalier and Kennedy 2016).
Linking Research with the Public in the Global South
Given the massive challenges limiting the growth of crop and animal agriculture in
the Global South, it is ironic that strong, integrated systems of applied research
with extension have still not emerged to a significant extent. A general lack of
financial resources and the need for institutional reforms are two reasons why this
situation has occurred.
9
Applied research has typically been conducted via government agencies or at international centers,
10
while extension has often been delegated either to other governmental or non-governmental organizations (GOs,
NGOs). Applied research conducted by government is often restricted to field stations where experiments can be conducted, but replication of on-farm conditions is
limited. Universities typically do not play a role in fostering agricultural extension
services in the Global South, as few (if any) systems similar to the US land-grant
model have been created.
In any case, when they exist, extension agents in the Global South may struggle
in terms of effectiveness and having sustained, positive impacts on producer communities.
11
Lack of budget to regularly interact with producers is a common problem, negatively affecting transportation and other operational needs; this is
especially evident in the under-resourced drylands. Extension agents often follow a
“top-down” approach where input from beneficiaries is typically minimal in shaping the extension agenda. Beneficiaries are often seen as passive recipients of extension technology or information. In some countries government extension can even
be politicized, with extension agents spending time indoctrinating clients on political matters in addition to filling their role as providers of technical advice. The
NGOs—both national and international—usually have more financial resources
than the GOs, but the former also have mixed records of success. The development
agenda pursued by NGOs can also be “top down” in that they advocate for the priorities of their international donors who may have little knowledge of on-the-ground
realities (Derr 2018). In addition, NGOs may have few (if any) open lines of
9 http://www.fao.org/3/a-y2709e.pdf.
10 Such as the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR). https://www.
cgiar.org/.
11 D. L. Coppock, personal observations.
7 Public Participation Approaches for a New Era in Dryland Science and Stewardship…