Defense (6.14.13)

Sustainable farmer innovationsSustainable farmer innovations
in emerging local food systems:in emerging local food systems:
Farmers as innovators not adoptersFarmers as innovators not adopters
PhD Defense
Justin Ellis
June 14, 2013

What is Innovation in Agriculture?What is Innovation in Agriculture?
ConventionalConventional
ViewView
Alternative ViewAlternative View
WhatWhat Often TechnologyOften Technology
orientedoriented
Includes any tools thatIncludes any tools that
address the problemaddress the problem
WhyWhy Focused on commodityFocused on commodity
yields and profitabilityyields and profitability
Address broader problems ofAddress broader problems of
social, environmental andsocial, environmental and
economic challengeseconomic challenges
HowHow Diffusion occurs throughDiffusion occurs through
technology transfer bytechnology transfer by
information authoritiesinformation authorities
Innovation adaptation andInnovation adaptation and
development are asdevelopment are as
important as Diffusionimportant as Diffusion
A unique or novel solution to problems
that is new to the user regardless if it is new to the world

Technology Transfer Model
ResearchResearch
ExtensionExtension
FarmersFarmers
Needs

The Local Food System of Northeast GeorgiaThe Local Food System of Northeast Georgia
NC
SC
WhiteWhite
HabershamHabersham
RabunRabun
Focus on
•Sustainability
•Small scale
•Resource limited
•Newer farms

Change question fromChange question from
Why do farmers adopt?Why do farmers adopt?
toto
Why do farmers innovate?Why do farmers innovate?
What do farmers innovate?What do farmers innovate?
How do farmers innovate?How do farmers innovate?
Production Marketing Networking
Innovation InventoryInnovation Inventory
Innovation TypologyInnovation Typology
Adaptation andAdaptation and
DevelopmentDevelopment
ProcessesProcesses

• Hybrid seed introduced in the ’30’s
• Positives + improved vigor, disease and
drought resistance, 20% higher yields.
• Negatives - inability to reproduce and cost
• Ryan and Gross (Iowa State -1943) studied the
diffusion of hybrid seed corn amongst farmers
to understand how innovations are spread. Inspecting ears of hybrid seed
corn. Iowa, 1939. IPTV.org
The Diffusion of InnovationsThe Diffusion of Innovations
Hybrid Seed CornHybrid Seed Corn
A historical perspectiveA historical perspective
on the study of agricultural innovationson the study of agricultural innovations

Innovation Diffusion theoryInnovation Diffusion theory
PATTERNPATTERN MANIFESTATIONMANIFESTATION
Rate of AdoptionRate of Adoption Follows S curveFollows S curve
Starts slowStarts slow
Increases rapidly afterIncreases rapidly after
10%-15% adoption10%-15% adoption
Stages ofStages of
AdoptionAdoption
Categories ofCategories of
AdoptersAdopters
Attributes ofAttributes of
InnovationsInnovations
CritiqueCritique
• Emphasis is on Adoption
• Single innovations
• Assumes adoption is good for all

Stages ofStages of
AdoptionAdoption
Adoption is an indvidualAdoption is an indvidual
processprocess
AdoptersAdopters
Stages of AdoptionStages of Adoption
CritiqueCritique
• Assumes innovations should be
adopted by all (pro innovation bias)
• Little discussion of adaptations or
re-invention

Stages ofStages of
AdoptionAdoption
Adoption is an individualAdoption is an individual
processprocess
AdoptersAdopters
Adopters at differentAdopters at different
phases sharephases share
characteristicscharacteristics
CritiqueCritique
• Blames non-adopters (individual
blame bias).
• Non-adoption not due to problems
with the innovation or its effects.
• Issues with Equality
• Bias in favor of wealthy farms

Stages ofStages of
AdoptionAdoption
Adoption is an individualAdoption is an individual
processprocess
AdoptersAdopters
Adopters at differentAdopters at different
phases sharephases share
characteristicscharacteristics
Qualities of innovationsQualities of innovations
affect adoption ratesaffect adoption rates

Attributes of InnovationsAttributes of Innovations
Relative Advantage
Benefits above and beyond those offered by
existing practices.
Compatibility Consistent with existing needs, previous ideas, and
individual and cultural values.
Complexity Extent to which an innovation is considered
difficult to understand and implement.
Trialability Extent to which an innovation can be
experimented with on a limited basis.
Observability Extent to which an innovation can be seen by
others.
CritiqueCritique
• Only assesses innovations according to their adoptiveness
• Doesn’t address adaptability (or sustainability)

Participant ObservationParticipant Observation
• 36 farms visited – 28 included in study
• 240 hours of participant observation
• Semi-structured interviews
• Participatory Action Research in years 2-4
Or in this case “Or in this case “Agroecologist!Agroecologist!””

Blackberry stakes with washer
adaptation for stationary wire
Mulched rows with
clover cover crop in
the paths
Body Saving
Better Performance
Weed control
SOM / FertilityWheel hoe
Amish stool

Season Extension
Cost saving, time
saving, body saving,
nutrient cycling
Food Safety
Irrigation
Chicken Wagon
Cob Furnace
Sand Filter

Time Saving
Season Extension
Cost Savings
Planting Marker
High Tunnels and
Pipe Benders
Insect Control
Parasitic Wasps

Innovation AnalysisInnovation Analysis
categorized by “challenges designed to address”

Production
Innovations
Network /
Knowledge /
Marketing
1. Time Saving
2. Cost Saving
3. Energy Saving
4. Recycled / Reuse
5. Body / Labor Saving
6. Better Performance
7. Yield Enhancement
8. SOM (soil organic matter) Management and Soil Amendment
9. Nutrient Cycling
10. Irrigation / Watering
11. Season Extension
12. Insect / Pest / Disease Control
13. Weed Control
14. Harvest / Product Quality
15. Manufactured Equipment
16. Livestock / Animal Management
17. Labor Assistance
18. Assessment Planning
19. Outside Income
20. Quality of Life / Lifestyle
21. Feedback
22. Network / Organizational
23. Farmer Training / Knowledge
24. Crop / Food Types and Uses
25. Marketing
26. Income Enhancement
27. Food Processing
28. Food Policy
29. Food Safety
Labor /
Planning
/ Lifestyle
Food
Processing /
Safety
Innovation TypesInnovation Types

Innovation TypologyInnovation Typology
IndicatesIndicates marketingmarketing andand
networkingnetworking innovationsinnovations
are as common as someare as common as some
productionproduction innovationsinnovations
Suggests where farmersSuggests where farmers
in a food system arein a food system are
investing in solutions toinvesting in solutions to
problemsproblems
Does notDoes not tell us whichtell us which
innovations are mostinnovations are most
importantimportant

Type Category Occurrence Rank
Better performance Production 62 1
Cost Saving Production 58 2
Marketing Network / Knowledge / Marketing 55 3
Network / Organizational Network / Knowledge / Marketing 40 4
Body / Labor Saving Production 30 5
Crop / Food Types and Uses Network / Knowledge / Marketing 29 6
Time Saving Production 27 7
Yield Enhancement Production 26 8
SOM management / soil amendment Production 26 9
Season Extension Production 25 10
Insect / Disease Control Production 24 11
Manufactured equipment Production 23 12
Nutrient Cycling Production 22 13
Harvest / Product Quality Production 22 14
Recycled/Reuse Production 19 15
Income Enhancement Network / Knowledge / Marketing 18 16
Weed / Control Production 17 17
Assessment Planning Labor / Planning / Lifestyle 15 18
Farmer Training / Knowledge Network / Knowledge / Marketing 15 19
Food Processing Food Processing / Safety 12 20
Irrigation / Watering Production 10 21
Livestock/Animal Management Production 10 22
Outside Income/ Grants Labor / Planning / Lifestyle 10 23
Quality of Life / Lifestyle Labor / Planning / Lifestyle 9 24
Feedback Labor / Planning / Lifestyle 7 25
Labor assistance Labor / Planning / Lifestyle 6 26
Energy Saving Production 5 27
Food Safety Innovation Food Processing / Safety 5 28
Food Policy Food Processing / Safety 3 29
Homemade Greenhouses
n=5
Greenhouse Case StudyGreenhouse Case Study
Pipe Bender
Example of a
COST SAVINGS
Innovation

NRCS Funded
Greenhouses
n=6

• Primary Income Farms
• What’s unique is the innovative use of capital.
• No one purchased a kit.
• Reducing costs with labor
• Different types of growing environments
Total Square Feet and Material Costs of Greenhouses built by Farms
between 2009-2013

``
Basement Growing
Cob FurnaceAlternative HeatAlternative Heat
Season ExtensionSeason Extension
Case StudyCase Study
• Only occur on one farm
• Growing Year Round
• Will People Adopt?
• System Level Innovations

Identifying Key InnovationsIdentifying Key Innovations
Innovation Practices
Innovation
types addressed
Compost Tea 9
Aquaponics system 8
Compost Tea 8
NRCS Rainwater irrigation system 8
Compost Tea 8
Compost Slurry 8
CSA shares system / Cafeteria Style 7
Impact Grazing 7
Using cardboard / hay for weed
suppression 7
Focusing on Locally Grown internet
market 7
On-farm Farmers Market 7
Locally Grown market 7
Basement growing using grow lights 7
Well and watering lines Grant 6
NRCS high tunnel and irrigation
grants 6
Biodynamic treatments 6
NRCS Irrigation system 6
Recycled Black Plastic under tomatoes 6
Use of inexpensive tunnels 6
Locally Grown market 6
• Which innovations address the
most problems?
• Which innovations have widest
applicability?
• Which innovations most
strongly shape farm
management?
• Which innovations are shaping
the local food system as a
whole?
Specific Innovations and the number of innovation
types they address

Compost Tea Case StudyCompost Tea Case Study
Soil Food Web Priming Techniques
compost teas / slurries
• Occurence – 4 of 28 farms
• Source – Local specialists (& Dr. Elaine Ingham)
• Impact – Addressed broadest # of production
needs (9)
• Adaptation – variations in recipes, application
equipment
• Performance – strong
• Benefits - yes
• Replicability – maybe (Research?) low
communication on the practice.
• Process of Innovation Development – challenges
have included sifting debris from compost, not
knowing when the microbial flush is active
Example of a Key InnovationExample of a Key Innovation

Compost Tea throughCompost Tea through
the Attributes of Innovationsthe Attributes of Innovations
Relative Advantage Benefits are numerous and immediate.
Compatibility Strong
Complexity
Relatively complex
• Requires specialized equipment
• Microbes are difficult / impossible to measure
Trialability Strong. Most farms that had a trial adopted.
Observability Somewhat of a challenge

Compost Tea throughCompost Tea through
the Attributes of Innovationsthe Attributes of Innovations
Relative Advantage Benefits are numerous and immediate.
Compatibility Strong
Complexity
Relatively complex
• Requires specialized equipment
• Microbes are difficult / impossible to measure
Trialability Strong. Most farms that had a trial adopted.
Observability Somewhat of a challenge
AdaptabilityAdaptability
Extent to which an innovation can be modified orExtent to which an innovation can be modified or
improved in order to better address the specificimproved in order to better address the specific
contexts, problems and challenges in a setting.contexts, problems and challenges in a setting.

Compost TeaCompost Tea
Key Innovations analysisKey Innovations analysis
Does the innovation address the most
problems? YES
Does the innovation have wide
applicability? YES, though not widely
adopted
Does the innovations have the potential
to strongly shape farm management? YES, it is a system level
innovation
Does the innovation have the potential to
shape the local food system as a
whole? YES

Biochar case studyBiochar case study
BENEFITS – reduces cost of fuel, reduces emissions, increases SOM,
improves plant performance (due to charcoal), stable form of carbon
storage, utilizes local materials, inexpensive, tells a story?

Role of Participatory ResearchRole of Participatory Research
• Began in April 2010 with initiation of Online Farmers Market
• Also in April 2010 founded a Community Garden
• Spring/Summer of 2011 my wife and I named our operation
Soque Lover Gardens and began selling at weekend markets
• Applied for Network Organizer position with CNG in 2011
• Received the position in September and launched the Georgia
Mountains Farmers Network in January 2012.
Benefits Setbacks
Allows for weekly interactions
with farmers and customers
Folks may be confused what hat
I’m wearing when.
Incredible access to data. Reason
to answer my questions beyond
research benefits
Difficult to stand objectively.
Participation makes observation
more difficult, time consuming

Internet Based Farmers MarketInternet Based Farmers Market
a rural food distribution networka rural food distribution network
Advantages Disadvantages
Less time / Labor relative to
farmers markets
Lower overall sales compared to
live markets (no impulse buys)
Less risk of waste (products are
presold)
More risk by customer in
unknown products
Reach customers across broad
region
Less farmer / customer
interaction (less correction)
Midweek market enhances
freshness
Greater packaging and time
packaging
Drop off locations create
opportunities for networking/
knowledge exchange
Extra time required to list and
describe items
Market generates its own funds Table fees (12%) reduce profits
But it’s central value is as a CENTRALIZED MARKETPLACE across a
wide rural region. And as a DISTRIBUTION NETWORK.

Internet Based Farmers MarketInternet Based Farmers Market
a rural food distribution networka rural food distribution network

Initiation of a Regional Farmers NetworkInitiation of a Regional Farmers Network
• September 2011 –
CNG awards $2,000
to help spur a
“farmer centered”
NETWORK
• First meeting in
January 2012
• Formally becomes
Georgia Mountains
Farmers Network

Initiation of a Regional Farmers NetworkInitiation of a Regional Farmers Network
• 4 hosted farm tours,
potlucks, meetings
• 1 bulk order
• Hosted a regional farm
tour of 18 farms attended
by 150
• Innovation adoption has
begun

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