Agricultural R&D: Recent Trends and Tools for the Innovation Systems Approach

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, many studies have focused on the need for an innovation system approach to agricultural research and development, especially to respond to growing global food needs and, in general, for rural social and economic development.

The classic linear model of transmission of innovations was doubted, believing that the issue needed a more complex, holistic, and inclusive network approach, involving stakeholders from all levels. It is clear, in fact, that rural development needs a favorable sociopolitical and infrastructural environment, in order to operate in an appropriate manner, and that the direct and linear approach between research and agricultural production, in the absence of a favorable environment, is not effective enough.

The research field has produced some theoretical studies with the intent to make the approach to innovation more systematic; there is also an extensive literature illustrating case studies around the world. Many countries and organizations have implemented projects in this direction, trying to respond organically to the issue, investing a large amount of human and economic resources, and involving a number of actors from the public and private sectors.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit a scientific paper to the Special Issue “Agricultural R&D: Recent Trends and Tools for the Innovation System Approach”.

This Special Issue aims to deal with agricultural development in general, both in developed and developing countries, looking at both the strictly agricultural topics and the socioeconomic issues of rural areas.

We also consider it very important to make explicit reference to sustainable agricultural development, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the UN and the issues of the circular economy.

Another fundamental topic is the methods for monitoring and verifying the results of Innovation System actions.

Finally, we also propose the description of Innovation System experiences implemented in individual geographical areas and also possible tools for the transfer and update of experiences from one region to another.

We are looking for studies that clearly describe both the theoretical foundations of the adopted methods and how they have been implemented or how they can be implemented, with detailed case studies.

Purely theoretical studies, whose methods have not yet been put into practice, are also welcome, provided that they are described in detail and therefore easily implementable not only by other researchers, but also by potential stakeholders.

The general aim is to make available to all people involved in agricultural development the methods and tools that can actually be used for the implementation of an innovation system approach. In particular, this Special Issue wants to look at the state-of-the-art, especially focusing on recent trends and experiences and describing any new method and tool that research has developed to better implement the innovation system approach, as essential to foster agricultural development.

The Special Issue will represent an update of the existing literature.

References

Arnold E., Bell M., 2001. Some New Ideas About Research for Development. Partnership at the Leading Edge: A Danish Vision for Knowledge, Research and Development (Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, April 2001, p288-316).

Roseboom J., 2004. Adopting an Agricultural Innovation System Perspective: Implications for ASARECA’s Strategy. ASARECA Strategic Planning Paper no. 7.

Casper S., van Waarden F., 2005. Innovation and Institutions - A Multidisciplinary Review of the Study of Innovation System. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, UK.

The World Bank, 2006. Enhancing Agricultural Innovation: How to Go Beyond the Strengthening of Research Systems. Washington DC, USA.

Agwu A. E., Dimelu M. U., Madukwe M. C., 2008. Innovation system approach to agricultural development: Policy implications for agricultural extension delivery in Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 7 (11), pp. 1604-1611.

The World Bank, 2012. Agricultural Innovation Systems - An investment sourcebook. Washington DC, USA.

Interagency Report, 2012. Sustainable agricultural productivity growth and bridging the gap for small family farms. Interagency Report to the Mexican G20 Presidency.

European Commission, 2016. A strategic approach to EU Research and innovation. Draft paper for the European Conference. 26-28 January 2016, Brussels.

Pound B., Conroy C., 2017. The Innovation Systems Approach to Agricultural Research and Development. Chapter 11 in Agricultural Systems (Second Edition), Edited by Sieglinde Snapp and Barry Pound. Elsevier.

Dr. Roberto Calisti
Dr. Luca Regni
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• agricultural development
• rural development
• agricultural research
• innovation system approach
• sustainable agriculture
• agricultural networks