Victor M. Villalobos

1. Innovation, institutional learning, and networks
for development in LAC
Víctor M. Villalobos

2. Context
• A new agricultural revolution is under way in LAC agriculture.
• Forging a paradigm of productive, sustainable, and inclusive agriculture
calls for innovation.
• The structural changes need to go hand in hand with sweeping
organizational changes.
• The new institutional arrangements in the area of research and extension
are still insufficient.
• The GCARD’s Road Map is the way to go, speeding up the process. We
can do more. 2

3. Some experiences in LAC
• At the hemispheric level: The INNOVAGRO
Network www.redinnovagro.in
• At the sub regional level:
The PROCIS
• At the local level: El Salvador’s PAF
3

4. INNOVAGRO Network
• It is hemispheric and involves the different stakeholders in the National Agricultural
Research Systems (NARSs).
• Very useful tool for strengthening innovation processes in the agrifood sector,
through the sharing of experiences.
• The public and private sectors are heavily involved.
• Currently consists of 60 institutions and organizations.
• Information about 300 successful cases is being shared.
• It has developed the Observatory of Institutional Innovations and the Diagnostic
Guide of the NARSs. 4

5. The PROCIs
• They are mechanisms for the technological integration of the NARIs.
• PROCISUR, PROCINORTE, PROMECAFE, SICTA and PROCITROPICOS.
• They operate through networks or platforms, addressing the countries’
research priorities.
• Some of them have been adapting quite well to the new conditions. Others
not so well.
• All of them have been establishing important partnerships with global
research organizations.
5

6. Family Agriculture Plan in El Salvador
• It has increased smallholder income by improving competitiveness.
• Organized innovation makes it possible to adopt a chains approach in rural
territories.
• It encompasses 16,000 producers, strengthening their technical and
management capabilities.
• Extension is carried out via the field schools, adopting the “learning by
doing” approach.
• Nearly 80% of the participants in the PAF chains are using all or part of
6
the technologies transferred.

7. Lessons Learned
• Trust makes partnerships and networks work.
• Trust reduces transaction and coordination costs.
• Since the innovations take place at the territorial level, local innovation
networks are very important.
• The networks are more successful when geared to market requirements
and territorial dynamics.
• The institutional learning processes are complex, slow, and non-linear.
• The leadership is always important…..very important! 7

8. Important partnerships
• Consolidate the leadership of GFAR by means of a bigger presence of the private sector
and family farming within its different entities.
• Strengthen the partnership between IICA and the CGIAR International Centers,
promoting a greater presence of the CRPs in LAC.
• Broadening and deepening of south–south cooperation.
• Identify, systematize and disseminate new public-private partnerships in
research/extension in LAC.
• Promote more closely coordinated action by the PROCIS, FORAGRO, and NARIs,
increasingly opening them up to partnerships with other agricultural stakeholders.
• The international agencies can and should act in a more coordinated manner. 8

9. Some proposals
• There is an urgent need to promote a global partnership for the
development of family farming.
• Agriculture should spearhead the campaign for more efficient water
use…..and research and innovation have a vital role to play!!
• Implement a hemispheric strategy to support the modernization of NARIs.
• Need for more and better instruments that support technical cooperation
better.
• A common agenda to support research/extension/innovation for all the
international agencies working in the Region. 9

10. Thank you