The role of actor networks in enabling agroecological innovation: Lessons from Laos

Castella Jean-Christophe, Lestrelin Guillaume, Phimmasone Sisavath, Tran Quoc Hoa, Lienhard Pascal. 2022. The role of actor networks in enabling agroecological innovation: Lessons from Laos. Sustainability, 14 (6):3550, 18 p.

Résumé : In this paper, we use conceptual insights from the actor–network theory (ANT) to explore the role of agroecological innovation systems (AeISs) in the reconfiguration of agricultural practices toward sustainability. AeISs are actor networks involving a diversity of individuals (e.g., farmers, traders, experts) and organizations (e.g., cooperatives, rural development agencies, teaching and research institutions) that mainstream agroecology principles and practices to enhance agroecosystems' resilience. Their composition and structure affect the way different agents of change interact, as well as how they access, exchange, and use knowledge as they drive the adoption of specific technologies. We document seven AeISs that were active between 2005 and 2020 in the northern uplands of Laos. Within the framework of these initiatives, action research was conducted for understanding the processes underpinning diverse technical, organizational, and institutional innovations to foster an agroecological transition. Building on a comparative analysis of AeIS, we consider how agency was distributed among collectives as they reorganized in time. Our discussion highlights the importance of configuring, enlarging, and nurturing spaces in which actors are empowered to adjust and adapt, as well as to think and act collectively in complexity. Lastly, what counts in the innovation is the underlying networking process itself, i.e., the process through which all actors of the AeIS interact and exchange. Changes in the networking processes come with a changing conception of knowledge. Moving from knowledge to knowing (i.e., knowledge in the making), AeISs no longer only promote products or technologies, but also collective intelligence based on an ethic of care.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : agroécosystème, agroécologie, systèmes d'innovation agricole, analyse de réseau, pratique agricole, agriculture durable, innovation, connaissance

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : République démocratique populaire lao

Mots-clés complémentaires : transition agroécologique

Mots-clés libres : Agroecology, Agricultural innovation systems, Impact assessment, Actionable knowledge, Laos

Classification Agris : F08 - Systèmes et modes de culture
U70 - Sciences humaines et sociales

Champ stratégique Cirad : CTS 2 (2019-) - Transitions agroécologiques

Agences de financement hors UE : Institut de Recherche pour le Développement

Auteurs et affiliations

• Castella Jean-Christophe, IRD (FRA) ORCID: 0000-0003-3532-0728 - auteur correspondant
• Lestrelin Guillaume, CIRAD-ES-UMR TETIS (TUN) ORCID: 0000-0001-6207-218X
• Phimmasone Sisavath, Ministère de l'agriculture et des forêts (Laos) (LAO)
• Tran Quoc Hoa, CIRAD-PERSYST-UPR GECO (LAO)
• Lienhard Pascal, CIRAD-PERSYST-UPR AIDA (VNM)

Source : Cirad-Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/600589/)

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