Organic Farmers´ Experiments - Learning Local Knowledge

Research and experimentation has always been part of farming. The historical development of the world`s agricultural systems demonstrates a persuasive argument for the existence and power of farmers` experiments to adapt practices and farming systems to the changing agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions. We observed that especially organic farmers are actively engaged in experimentation as part of their farming routine. Farmers developed organic agriculture (starting in the 1920s) long before institutional research did. The development of organic farming was based over decades on trial and error, but also on consciously planned experiments with the aim to apply general ecological principles to the farmers own locality and to manage complex agro-ecosystems in competitive markets. Organic farming has spread worldwide and the need to adapt to the diversity of natural environments, cultures and markets is still today forcing many farmers to experiment. Since farmers` experiments are one important source of information and knowledge that supports the evolution of agricultural practices and system, understanding the processes of agricultural innovation and experimentation could provide an excellent point to study the role of experimentation in the processes of knowledge generation. The present study (30 months, 3 PhD students) aims at generating empirical knowledge on the processes by which organic farmers` local knowledge is created and communicated. We seek to determine the nature of farmers` experiments by learning from farmers about their motives, topics, methods and outcomes of experimentation; to understand the factors associated with variation in the experimental process; and to identify the local communication channels through which this information is transferred. Conducting a comparative study about organic farmers` experiments in three countries (Austria, Israel and Cuba), which represent organic farmers in different environmental conditions; agricultural systems; socio-economic conditions; and phase of the organic farming movement, will permit us to analyze the significance of factors associated with variation in the nature of the experimental process, within and among sites, and thus to better understand the role that experimentation plays as a mode of learning and creative innovation.

Research and experimentation has always been part of farming. The historical development of the world`s agricultural systems demonstrates a persuasive argument for the existence and power of farmers` experiments to adapt practices and farming systems to the changing agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions. We observed that especially organic farmers are actively engaged in experimentation as part of their farming routine. Farmers developed organic agriculture (starting in the 1920s) long before institutional research did. The development of organic farming was based over decades on trial and error, but also on consciously planned experiments with the aim to apply general ecological principles to the farmers own locality and to manage complex agro-ecosystems in competitive markets. Organic farming has spread worldwide and the need to adapt to the diversity of natural environments, cultures and markets is still today forcing many farmers to experiment. Since farmers` experiments are one important source of information and knowledge that supports the evolution of agricultural practices and system, understanding the processes of agricultural innovation and experimentation could provide an excellent point to study the role of experimentation in the processes of knowledge generation. The present study (30 months, 3 PhD students) aims at generating empirical knowledge on the processes by which organic farmers` local knowledge is created and communicated. We seek to determine the nature of farmers` experiments by learning from farmers about their motives, topics, methods and outcomes of experimentation; to understand the factors associated with variation in the experimental process; and to identify the local communication channels through which this information is transferred. Conducting a comparative study about organic farmers` experiments in three countries (Austria, Israel and Cuba), which represent organic farmers in different environmental conditions; agricultural systems; socio-economic conditions; and phase of the organic farming movement, will permit us to analyze the significance of factors associated with variation in the nature of the experimental process, within and among sites, and thus to better understand the role that experimentation plays as a mode of learning and creative innovation.