How Knowledge Transfer Impact Happens at the Farm Level: Insights from Advisers and Farmers in the Irish Agricultural Sector

Anthony Cawley, Kevin Heanue (), Rachel Hilliard, Cathal O’Donoghue and Maura Sheehan
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Anthony Cawley: Rural Economy and Development Programme, Teagasc, H65 R718 Galway, Ireland
Kevin Heanue: Evaluation Unit, Teagasc, H65 R718 Galway, Ireland
Rachel Hilliard: JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Cathal O’Donoghue: School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Maura Sheehan: Business School, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: Many studies show that interaction with agricultural advisory services impacts productivity and profitability on farms. However, less attention is paid to explaining how this impact is achieved. This paper explores the factors that determine the implementation of newly learned knowledge from advisory engagement to achieve an impact on farm level performance. Focusing on the Irish case, a series of semi-structured interviews from a purposive sample of advisers and farmers from the more profitable dairy sector were undertaken to analyse the key drivers of impact. Results show that a combination of group-based and individual activities based on relevant content focused on key management practices for grassland, breeding, and financial management were key to achieving impact. Furthermore, positive outcomes were dependent on a high degree of trust between the farmer and the organisation, between the farmer and the adviser, and between the farmer and their peers. The findings indicate that while some barriers remain for farmers to apply newly learned knowledge, those that do implement the practices report a positive impact. This has implications for knowledge transfer design which is timely given the focus on these activities in the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027.

Keywords: knowledge transfer; advisory service; impact; trust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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