Agricultural Systems Special Issue
Since 2021, ISDC has focused on inclusive innovation and its significance to CGIAR. This three-year effort has culminated in a special issue of the renowned journal Agricultural Systems, featuring 17 papers.
Conceptualization and Purpose: The Roots of the Special Issue
Concrete applications of inclusive innovation in agriculture and food systems remain poorly documented and understood. This was highlighted and became a topic of interest for the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) in 2021, the external science advisory body of CGIAR, after reviewing proposals for the new CGIAR pooled funding research Initiatives. Questions piqued ISDC’s interest, such as:
- Review current practice and assess gaps in agrifood systems research to establish the rationale for inclusive innovation with particular attention toward future action;
- Propose pathways for expanded testing and use of inclusive innovation modes, and to evolve institutional practices and mechanisms;
- Draw upon evidence about inclusive innovation (e.g., empirical data; case studies) to the greatest extent possible (including evidence beyond agriculture and food systems), and
- Recognize and address the trade-offs inherent in complex agrifood systems.
The special issue: Enabling Inclusive Innovation in Agriculture and Food Systems
With these questions, a body of work developed from ISDC, culminating with a special issue comprised of 17 papers. The editors acknowledged that a special issue on inclusivity would lack legitimacy without true diversity among authors. The EOI call was global and not limited to CGIAR researchers.
• Learn below about the expressions of interest and author demographics
Paper topics were as diverse as their authors ranging from artificial intelligence to linguistics to how do we evaluate inclusivity. Although there is still a significant gap in literature, a key component of this special issue is the enhancement and validation of theoretical frameworks/models.
ISDC invites you to explore the special issue and hopes it triggers your own thinking and conversations about inclusive innovation in agriculture and food systems. To spark more dialogue and engagement, the 2024 ISDC Science Forum has been rescheduled for December 2024.
The papers
The 17 papers that constitute this special issue cover a wide range of topics, touching on many of the important issues that arise when discussing inclusive innovation.
Anticipating social differentiation and unintended consequences in scaling initiatives using GenderUp, a method to support responsible scaling
Erin McGuire, Cees Leeuwis, Anne M. Rietveld, Béla Teeken
Full paperFostering social inclusion in development-oriented digital food system interventions
Jonathan Steinke, Charlotte Schumann, Simon Langan, Anna Müller, ... Jacob van Etten
Full paperLinguistic diversity, climate shock, and farmers-herder conflicts: Implications for inclusive innovations for agro-pastoralism systems
Chun Song, Athanasios Petsakos, Elisabetta Gotor
Full paperThe role of living labs in cultivating inclusive and responsible innovation in precision agriculture
Maaz Gardezi, Halimeh Abuayyash, Paul R. Adler, Juan P. Alvez, ... Asim Zia
Full paperInnovation portfolio management for responsible food systems transformation in the public sector: Lessons, results and recommendations from CGIAR
Marc Schut, Julien Colomer, Emma Proud, Enrico Bonaiuti, ... Cees Leeuwis
Full paperClimate services for agriculture: Steering towards inclusive innovation in Australian climate services design and delivery
Stephen Snow, Simon Fielke, Aysha Fleming, Emma Jakku, ... Graham Bonnett
Full paperEx-ante priority setting in crop breeding: Towards inclusive innovation for impact
M. Occelli, E. Compaore, D. Brown, F. Barry, ... H.A. Tufan
Full paperStudying inclusive innovation with the right data: An empirical illustration from Ethiopia
Solomon Alemu, Frederic Kosmowski, James R. Stevenson, Paola Mallia, ... Karen Macours
Full paperAdvancing inclusive and effective agri-food systems research for development: A short communication
Fetien Abera, Magali Garcia, Holger Meinke, Christine Negra, ... Allison Grove Smith
Full paperEquity principles: Using social theory for more effective social transformation in agricultural research for development
Erin McGuire, Maha Al-Zu'bi, Maria Boa-Alvarado, Thi Thu Giang Luu, ... Eva Marina Valencia Leñero
Full paperGuidance on farmer participation in the design, testing and scaling of agricultural innovations
Lukas Pawera, Ravishankar Manickam, Carolyne Wangungu, Uon Bonnarith, ... Srinivasan Ramasamy
Full paperChallenges and opportunities for human-centered design in CGIAR
Anna Müller, Jonathan Steinke, Hugo Dorado, Salome Keller, ... Charlotte Schumann
Full paperGender transformative innovation: Women's inclusion in livestock vaccine systems in northern Ghana
Nelly Njiru, Alessandra Galiè, Immaculate Omondi, Dalmas Omia, ... Peter Awin
Full paperDynamic evaluation of agricultural research for development supports innovation and responsible scaling through high-level inclusion
John Gargani, Petronella Chaminuka, Robert McLean
Full paperRefining a middle-range theory of inclusive innovation processes in agrifood systems in the Global South
Elizabeth Hoffecker, Eunhae Lee
Full paperCan citizen science in water-related nature-based solutions deliver transformative participation in agri-food systems? A review
Taha Loghmani-Khouzani, Victoria Dany, Nadine Seifert, Kaveh Madani, Edeltraud Guenther
Full paperParticipatory AI for inclusive crop improvement
Violet Lasdun, Davíd Güereña, Berta Ortiz-Crespo, Stephen Mutuvi, ... Teshale Assefa
Full paperAuthor Demographics
This special issue strived to feature authors and papers that cover the entire spectrum with special attention to early-career researchers, female scientists, and regional diversity. To align with the theme of inclusivity, corresponding authors were encouraged to convene author groups drawn from diverse networks, disciplines, geographies, gender, and institutions, including individuals with direct, practical experience in inclusive modes of agriculture and food systems research and innovation.
From the open call, 68 Expressions of Interest (EoIs) were received. Based on the abstracts provided during the EoI process, 28 manuscripts were invited for peer review, resulting in 27 submissions. Of these, 17 papers were published in the special issue. Below are the demographics collected for accepted EoIs and published papers.
GENDER
1. Accepted Expressions of Interest (N=27)
- 37.00% Female authors
- 63.00% Male authors
2. Corresponding Authors for Published Papers (N=17)
- 45.60% Female authors
- 54.40% Male authors
3. All Authors (N=125)
- 45.60% Female authors
- 54.40% Male authors
CGIAR Affiliation and Career Stage
1. Accepted Expressions of Interest (N=27)
- 63.00% CGIAR affiliates
- 37.00% Early Career Scientists
2. Corresponding Authors for Published Papers (N=17)
- 70.00% CGIAR affiliates
- 70.00% Early Career Scientists
3. All Authors (N=125)
40.00% CGIAR affiliates
COUNTRIES
1. Accepted Expressions of Interest (N=27)
2. Corresponding Authors for Published Papers (N=17)
3. All Authors (N=125)
ISDC 2024 Science Forum
The 2024 Science Forum will serve as the launch event for the Agricultural Systems special issue on inclusive innovation. Four publications will be presented that focus on CGIAR research, with two early career corresponding authors presenting.
Stay tuned for more details about date and location on our website.