In our case we*re finding it useful to view research, extension, education
and users as forming elements of one agricultural information system,
the aim of which is to maximise the collective knowledge of the
community (all of the above) and make it readily available to
decision-makers. This approach goes beyond the traditional linear
concept of *extending* information, where we seem to mistakenly view
an information system soley in terms of its transfer component, and
human communication in much the same way as we transfer data
between computers. Our view of an information system is rather a
*social system*, within which scientists, extension officers, farmers and
others interact to create new knowledge ... and so change their
perspective of the world ... and so become more likely to adapt the way
they act in the world.
Given the diverse set of decision environments, and the fragmented
information sources, which characterise todays agricultural lands and
enterprises, we*ve taken as our start point the need to bring local and
scientific knowledge systems together into a single accessible and
structured focal point - a comprehensive computer-based DSS - which
also acts as a tool to support learning processes (group discussions,
workshops, etc.). So the process itself builds on what extension
personnel do very well - facilitating the sharing of experience and
information between people. Involving managers and users, in this way,
also lends itself to the possibility of involving them more formally as
*experimental* researchers in the widest sense of the word, so
providing science with information on the outcomes of management
actions.
This sort of community-based approach is not only helping refine the
questions. It is also helping to facilitate the introduction of more
sustainable land management practices by providing a forum to enable
participants to define what data is needed and involving them in the
establishment of research processes to gather this data. Sure, it's
workshop/people intensive .... but this is essentially what provides a
learning environment to help those involved to look at their situation in a
different light. It creates partnerships where the different parties can
gain a better appreciation of the different viewpoints involved. In turn,
this acts to minimise much needless conflict and enables people to gain a
more holistic perspective of the situation as a whole. The various
specialists that may be involved gain a better feeling for how their
subsystem fits into the total system, and they gain an appreciation of
management considerations. Similarly managers and users learn of the
importance of the various sub-systems within the total management
system.
As this process is followed through it may well lead to new and relevant
research initiatives because managers and decision-makers will be
explaining their information and technical needs as they work more
closely with researchers. Because it's community-based it provides a
process to both keep research focussed on community needs and acts
as a vehicle for transferring the research results back to the end-user
... and because the process is ongoing, it allows the community to
rethink and reprovide the information it needs as decision-making
environment changes.
If anyone wants to follow any of these these ideas up, there*s more
detail provided in our home pages which can be found at:
http//www.crop.cri.nz/landcare/sal/sal.html
... I look forward to someone updating this group on the outcomes from
next month*s conference.
Willy Allen
Farming Systems Specialist
Semi Arid Lands Research Team
Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research
PO Box 282
Alexandra
New Zealand
Tel: +64-3-4489093
Fax +64-3-4488160
allenw@landcare.cri.nz