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)?

5

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?

6

“…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

9

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

15

Acknowledgements

Cami RyanPeter Phillips

kdoerksen@genomeprairie.ca