Methodological Reflections on Monitoring Interactive Knowledge Creation during Farming Demonstrations by Means of Surveys and Observations

Ane Kirstine Aare, Hanne Cooreman, Cristina Virto Garayoa, Esther Sótil Arrieta, Natalia Bellostas, Fleur Marchand and Henrik Hauggaard-Nielsen
Additional contact information
Ane Kirstine Aare: Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Hanne Cooreman: Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
Cristina Virto Garayoa: Institute for Agrifood Technology and Infrastructures of Navarra (INTIA), 31610 Villava (Navarra), Spain
Esther Sótil Arrieta: Institute for Agrifood Technology and Infrastructures of Navarra (INTIA), 31610 Villava (Navarra), Spain
Natalia Bellostas: Institute for Agrifood Technology and Infrastructures of Navarra (INTIA), 31610 Villava (Navarra), Spain
Fleur Marchand: Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
Henrik Hauggaard-Nielsen: Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-26

Abstract: During farming demonstrations, peer-to-peer learning is known to be more effective than technology transfer when encouraging farmers to consider adopting more sustainable farming practices. Interactive knowledge creation has the potential to create a stimulating peer-learning environment focusing on the use of hands-on activities, knowledge scaffolding, discussions and negotiation. This study investigated how insight can be gained about the interactive knowledge creation that occurs during farming demonstrations by monitoring and evaluating a diverse sample of farming demonstrations in Belgium, Spain and Denmark via surveys and observations originally designed for the AgriDemo-F2F project. The study found that the selected monitoring tools provided insight about how participants experienced specific interactive knowledge creation. However, several stumbling blocks were also identified in using the proposed tools to monitor these learning processes, including the monitoring of abstract concepts and the reluctance among farmers to respond to self-administered open-ended survey questions. Based on these learning points, several proposals were made to improve the monitoring process of interactive knowledge creation. This study confirms that the improved understanding of learning practices and their impact on actual change presents a challenge, but it is essential if the adoption of sustainable farming practices is to be increased.

Keywords: farming demonstrations; interactive knowledge creation; peer learning; monitoring tools; sustainable farming systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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