Background
Agriculture is crucial in the development of Southeast Asian countries as this sector remains a major source of income for rural people. Hunger and malnutrition are higher in rural areas, while increasing opportunities to generate income from the sector can reduce poverty and improve the food security of a nation. The pressure on the agricultural sector is magnified if we consider the future projections of population growth, environmental stresses, production-related constraints, and climate change.
Improving the agricultural sector requires the enhancement of the innovation system to produce changes in the processes, policies, and vision among agricultural stakeholders that enables the creation of transformative and innovative programs and products. COVID-19 brought renewed challenges in agricultural production research, extension and education. ICT has become increasingly responsive to the changing future of agriculture as the need for a safe and nutritious food supply has become a major concern. The breakdown in the food supply chain sped up the adoption of ICT-based applications in farmer education and food delivery systems, as well as reinvigorated the interest of venture capitalists to invest in agriculture.
Recent developments show that markets influence innovation systems, but the government can facilitate improvements through strategic collaborations with the different stakeholders in the supply chain. This program aims to engage the participants in analyzing the challenges facing agriculture and in developing collaborative and transformative programs for agricultural development. In doing so, participants will be able to propose innovative programs that may positively impact their agricultural innovation systems.
Objectives
At the end of this training, the participants should be able to:
- Explain the current challenges in the agricultural sector;
- Analyze opportunities for innovation in the field for research, extension, and skills development of agricultural leaders;
- Develop skills in collaboratively building possible scenarios in agriculture through futures thinking; and
- Propose transformative program interventions to enhance the agricultural innovation systems of their country.
Expected Outputs
- Roadmap that provides a clear path forward for all stakeholders from all sectors involved, highlighting the transformative strategies and program interventions to enhance agricultural innovation systems;
- Case studies on successful technological adoption, upscaling of technology for smallholder farmers, institutional problems related to poor and/or discontinued technological adoption; and
- Competency gap analysis and proposed action plan for innovative interventions for agricultural youth leaders.
Intended Participants
TrAInS is intended for mid-to-senior-level Southeast Asian professionals who are active in research and extension representing any of the following groups: a) Higher Education Institution (HEI) involved in teaching agricultural research and extension; b) Government agencies/ministries; c) Local Government Units (LGUs), nongovernment organizations (NGOs), farmers organizations/cooperatives; and d) Private sector engaged in agricultural R & D and relevant civil society organizations (CSOs).
Program Modules
Module 1. Transformations in Agriculture
This introductory module provides a macroeconomic view of the role of agriculture in development by reviewing previous studies, identifying the foundations of agricultural growth, and explaining the importance of increasing agricultural productivity as a strategy to reduce poverty.
Module 2. Promoting Innovations in the Agricultural Innovation Systems
This module discusses the changes in agriculture resulting from the 4th industrial revolution, and the technologies that are significantly impacting knowledge generation and sharing, farmer practices and markets. The discussion moves into the analysis of governance principles that can facilitate a robust agricultural innovation system where research, extension, and marketing systems can operate efficiently to promote food security and inclusive agriculture amidst the fourth industrial revolution.
Module 3. A New Breed of Agricultural Leaders
Given the governance principles and framework needed to ensure a robust agricultural innovation system, this module impresses the importance of moving forward to think of the kinds of competencies needed to ensure a dynamic agricultural sector where smallholders, entrepreneurial individuals, and commercial farmers thrive. Given the increased interaction of human beings with technologies, big data, and AI, future agricultural leaders need to be technologically savvy to maximize possibilities offered by these new products and processes. The government personnel and individuals working with development organizations should have the knowledge and skills to ensure that those who do not have access, knowledge, and skills to these innovative products and processes will be able to maximize the opportunities of these innovations. This session provides the participants the opportunity to examine the curriculum of their national universities and evaluate areas for further improvement to ensure that agricultural leaders are prepared to take on innovative leadership roles when they join the agricultural professionals. This module also presents an opportunity to investigate innovative programs directed to youth entrepreneurs as well as innovations done by youth leaders.
Module 4. Promoting Transformations in the Agricultural Innovation Systems
Agriculture is faced with challenges ranging from production related stresses, climate change, and increased population growth. The pressure to produce more using new technologies brings about additional challenges as it puts strains on the whole system. The government and development organizations must innovate to ensure efficiency and inclusiveness, and attain food security. What is the future of agriculture? How can we plan for a future where the only certainty are disruptions and challenges? This session compels the participants to problematize agriculture years from now and work on how to create a humanized community characterized by prosperity and food security.
Module 5. Defining Agriculture for the New Future
Sharing of key learnings and presentation of revised outputs/plans/roadmaps.
Contact Us
Interested in partnering or participating in this training? Please contact Dr. Nova Ramos, Head, Education and Collective Learning Department-Training for Development Unit (ECLD-T4DU):
