Enhancing sustainable agriculture through farmer research networks: a pathway to co-learning and innovation
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Date
2025-05-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Greenwich
Abstract
Smallholder farming communities face numerous challenges in securing food production sustainably,
often stemming from poor levels of adoption, or uptake, of researcher-led interventions and innovations.
Farmer research networks (FRNs) have emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges
by involving farmers in the research process through co-development and implementation of research,
fostering collaboration, and facilitating knowledge sharing through extended networks. FRNs offer an
opportunity to promote agroecological practices and this has been demonstrated through the evaluation
and adoption of botanical pesticides. Through this approach FRNs have been an effective route for
smallholders to reduce synthetic pesticide use, promoting more sustainable farming practices, and
enhancing community resilience. Future potential opportunities for FRNs include enabling farmers to
adopt interventions that optimise the contribution of natural enemies for pest control and pollination
services by improving agricultural landscapes, expanding the cultivation of useful plants for pest
management, and conducting research with FRNs on beneficial insects and soil health.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG-2: Zero Hunger
Keywords
Smallholder, Sustainable intensification, Farmer research network, Botanicals, Field margins