Mobilizing Agri-Food KnowledgeKari Doerksen
with Cami Ryan, Elias Nelson and Peter W.B. Phillips
ICABR, Ravello, ItalyJune 2013
food security, knowledge and uncertaintywhat do we mean by knowledge
mobilization (KMb)?Synthesis, dissemination & exchange
KMb modelsimplications for agri-food
presentation outline
Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge
pressing public policy issuemouths to feed, demand to meetrequires technological change and
innovation
food securityMobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge
problem: new ideas, new technologies,
new products and new organizational structures - uncertain
regulatory inertia Innovation ‘deficit’
“Inability to access, synthesize and judge knowledge claims and new
research discoveries is often cited by policy advisors and regulators as a
major impediment to making efficient and effective decisions.”
the KMb impetus
Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge
‘knowledge to action’ range of strategies and relationships that
link research with policy and practice
what is knowledge mobilization (KMb)?
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Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge
“…multi-dimensional, longer-term, purposeful, and interactive nature of the work in comparison to earlier terms that seem to imply a one-directional or linear move from research to practice…” (Cresco et al 2011)
KMb is a social processknowledge synthesis, dissemination and
exchange are critical components
why the interest in KMb?
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“…contextualization and integration of research findings of individual research studies within the larger body of knowledge on the topic…” (CIHR 2013)
must be reproducible and transparent in its methods, using quantitative and/or qualitative methods
KMb: synthesisMobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge
“active process to communicate results to potential users by targeting, tailoring and packaging the message for a particular target audience” (CIHR 2013)
involves active collaboration and exchange strategies include events, media engagement,
using a knowledge broker and developing researcher/knowledge user networks
build on trust and frequent interactions enhance the effectiveness (Gagnon, 2009)
evaluation
KMb: dissemination & exchangeMobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge
analysis
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Biosafety Clearing House (BCH)Center for Environmental Risk Assessment
(CERA) Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology
(PIFB)
Key operational components1. Clearly articulated mandate2. Knowledge focus / identifiable methodology:
synthesis, dissemination/exchange, continuous evaluation/audits
3. Broad stakeholder engagement balance of expertiseclearly defined roles opportunities for connecting and networking among
them 4. Bias mitigation protocols
KMb models Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge
Cochrane Collaboration
Agri-Food
BCH CERA PIFB
Clearly articulated mandate/goal
Longevity Long-term Short-term Short-term Short-term
Knowledge focus
•systematic reviews•decentralized•targeted knowledge products
•fractured •government and regulatory documents•articles, reports, virtual library workshops
•bibliographic / GM crop knowledge data
•reports; issue briefs; fact sheets; “data visualizations;” conferences
Method •Knowledge delivery; target: policy process & public
•repository; with competency in translating knowledge into different languages
•bridge research and decision-making
•knowledge delivery; target: policy process
Cochrane Collaboration
Agri-Food
BCH CERA PIFB
Synthesis high minimum to nil some; inconsistent (articles only)
high
Dissemination / Exchange
high; decentralized minimum to moderate
moderate; inconsistent
moderate
Evaluation/audits unclear unclear unclear Unknown
Stakeholder participation
broad moderate narrow; limited (ILSI RF)
narrow; limited (PCT Trusts)
Expertise unclear unclear unclear
Roles (singular/multiple)
unclear unclear unclear unclear
Engagement/networking
unclear unclear unclear
Bias mitigation unclear unclear unclear
Accountability
ResponsibilityTransparency
Structure&
Resources
Knowledge&
Uncertainty
Problem Solving
Outcomes
short term engagement, networking, stakeholder/end
expertise and roles are either missing or are not clearly articulated
BCH – engagement but fragmented, synthesis challenges
accountability, transparency, responsibility (Phillips, 2007)
ag biotech observationsMobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge
longer-term, purposeful, and interactive nature incentives for end-users and researchers to
engage?methodological rigor and consistencytime to responsecultural considerations – global initiative$$$$$$$$$$$
challenges
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