Author: Annah Latané
Publisher: RTI Press
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 24
Book Description
This study leveraged existing data infrastructure and relationships from the Feed the Future Senegal Naatal Mbay (“flourishing agriculture”) project, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by RTI International from 2015 to 2019. The research informed and empowered farmer organizations to track and respond to rural households in 2020 as they faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmer organizations, with support from RTI and local ICT firm STATINFO, administered a survey to a sample of 800 agricultural households that are members of four former Naatal Mbay–supported farmer organizations in two rounds in August and October 2020. Focus group discussions were conducted with network leadership pre- and post–data collection to contextualize the experience of the COVID-19 shock and to validate findings. The results showed that farmers were already reacting to the effects of low rainfall during the 2019 growing season and that COVID-19 compounded the shock through disrupted communications and interregional travel bans, creating food shortages and pressure to divert seed stocks for food. Food insecurity effects, measured through the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and cereals stocks, were found to be greater for households in the Casamance region than in the Kaolack and Kaffrine regions. The findings also indicate that farmer networks deployed a coordinated response comprising food aid and access to personal protective equipment, distribution of short-cycle legumes and grains (e.g., cowpea, maize) and vegetable seeds, protection measures for cereals seeds, and financial innovations with banks. However, food stocks were expected to recover as harvesting began in October 2020, and the networks were planning to accelerate seed multiplication, diversify crops beyond cereals, improve communication across the network. and mainstream access to financial instruments in the 2021 growing season. The research indicated that the previous USAID-funded project had likely contributed to the networks’ COVID-19 resilience capacities by building social capital and fostering the new use of tools and technologies over the years it operated.
Senegal farmer networks respond to COVID-19 / Les réseaux de producteurs du Sénégal font face à la COVID-19
Author: Annah Latané
Publisher: RTI Press
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 24
Book Description
This study leveraged existing data infrastructure and relationships from the Feed the Future Senegal Naatal Mbay (“flourishing agriculture”) project, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by RTI International from 2015 to 2019. The research informed and empowered farmer organizations to track and respond to rural households in 2020 as they faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmer organizations, with support from RTI and local ICT firm STATINFO, administered a survey to a sample of 800 agricultural households that are members of four former Naatal Mbay–supported farmer organizations in two rounds in August and October 2020. Focus group discussions were conducted with network leadership pre- and post–data collection to contextualize the experience of the COVID-19 shock and to validate findings. The results showed that farmers were already reacting to the effects of low rainfall during the 2019 growing season and that COVID-19 compounded the shock through disrupted communications and interregional travel bans, creating food shortages and pressure to divert seed stocks for food. Food insecurity effects, measured through the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and cereals stocks, were found to be greater for households in the Casamance region than in the Kaolack and Kaffrine regions. The findings also indicate that farmer networks deployed a coordinated response comprising food aid and access to personal protective equipment, distribution of short-cycle legumes and grains (e.g., cowpea, maize) and vegetable seeds, protection measures for cereals seeds, and financial innovations with banks. However, food stocks were expected to recover as harvesting began in October 2020, and the networks were planning to accelerate seed multiplication, diversify crops beyond cereals, improve communication across the network. and mainstream access to financial instruments in the 2021 growing season. The research indicated that the previous USAID-funded project had likely contributed to the networks’ COVID-19 resilience capacities by building social capital and fostering the new use of tools and technologies over the years it operated.
Publisher: RTI Press
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 24
Book Description
This study leveraged existing data infrastructure and relationships from the Feed the Future Senegal Naatal Mbay (“flourishing agriculture”) project, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by RTI International from 2015 to 2019. The research informed and empowered farmer organizations to track and respond to rural households in 2020 as they faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmer organizations, with support from RTI and local ICT firm STATINFO, administered a survey to a sample of 800 agricultural households that are members of four former Naatal Mbay–supported farmer organizations in two rounds in August and October 2020. Focus group discussions were conducted with network leadership pre- and post–data collection to contextualize the experience of the COVID-19 shock and to validate findings. The results showed that farmers were already reacting to the effects of low rainfall during the 2019 growing season and that COVID-19 compounded the shock through disrupted communications and interregional travel bans, creating food shortages and pressure to divert seed stocks for food. Food insecurity effects, measured through the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and cereals stocks, were found to be greater for households in the Casamance region than in the Kaolack and Kaffrine regions. The findings also indicate that farmer networks deployed a coordinated response comprising food aid and access to personal protective equipment, distribution of short-cycle legumes and grains (e.g., cowpea, maize) and vegetable seeds, protection measures for cereals seeds, and financial innovations with banks. However, food stocks were expected to recover as harvesting began in October 2020, and the networks were planning to accelerate seed multiplication, diversify crops beyond cereals, improve communication across the network. and mainstream access to financial instruments in the 2021 growing season. The research indicated that the previous USAID-funded project had likely contributed to the networks’ COVID-19 resilience capacities by building social capital and fostering the new use of tools and technologies over the years it operated.
Senegal Farmer Networks Respond to COVID-19
Author: Annah Latané
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
This study leveraged existing data infrastructure and relationships from the Feed the Future Senegal Naatal Mbay ("flourishing agriculture") project, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by RTI International from 2015 to 2019. The research informed and empowered farmer organizations to track and respond to rural households in 2020 as they faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmer organizations, with support from RTI and local ICT firm STATINFO, administered a survey to a sample of 800 agricultural households that are members of four former Naatal Mbay-supported farmer organizations in two rounds in August and October 2020. Focus group discussions were conducted with network leadership pre- and post-data collection to contextualize the experience of the COVID-19 shock and to validate findings. The results showed that farmers were already reacting to the effects of low rainfall during the 2019 growing season and that COVID-19 compounded the shock through disrupted communications and interregional travel bans, creating food shortages and pressure to divert seed stocks for food. Food insecurity effects, measured through the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and cereals stocks, were found to be greater for households in the Casamance region than in the Kaolack and Kaffrine regions. The findings also indicate that farmer networks deployed a coordinated response comprising food aid and access to personal protective equipment, distribution of short-cycle legumes and grains (e.g., cowpea, maize) and vegetable seeds, protection measures for cereals seeds, and financial innovations with banks. However, food stocks were expected to recover as harvesting began in October 2020, and the networks were planning to accelerate seed multiplication, diversify crops beyond cereals, improve communication across the network. and mainstream access to financial instruments in the 2021 growing season. The research indicated that the previous USAID-funded project had likely contributed to the networks' COVID-19 resilience capacities by building social capital and fostering the new use of tools and technologies over the years it operated.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
This study leveraged existing data infrastructure and relationships from the Feed the Future Senegal Naatal Mbay ("flourishing agriculture") project, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by RTI International from 2015 to 2019. The research informed and empowered farmer organizations to track and respond to rural households in 2020 as they faced the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmer organizations, with support from RTI and local ICT firm STATINFO, administered a survey to a sample of 800 agricultural households that are members of four former Naatal Mbay-supported farmer organizations in two rounds in August and October 2020. Focus group discussions were conducted with network leadership pre- and post-data collection to contextualize the experience of the COVID-19 shock and to validate findings. The results showed that farmers were already reacting to the effects of low rainfall during the 2019 growing season and that COVID-19 compounded the shock through disrupted communications and interregional travel bans, creating food shortages and pressure to divert seed stocks for food. Food insecurity effects, measured through the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and cereals stocks, were found to be greater for households in the Casamance region than in the Kaolack and Kaffrine regions. The findings also indicate that farmer networks deployed a coordinated response comprising food aid and access to personal protective equipment, distribution of short-cycle legumes and grains (e.g., cowpea, maize) and vegetable seeds, protection measures for cereals seeds, and financial innovations with banks. However, food stocks were expected to recover as harvesting began in October 2020, and the networks were planning to accelerate seed multiplication, diversify crops beyond cereals, improve communication across the network. and mainstream access to financial instruments in the 2021 growing season. The research indicated that the previous USAID-funded project had likely contributed to the networks' COVID-19 resilience capacities by building social capital and fostering the new use of tools and technologies over the years it operated.
The African Film Industry
Author: UNESCO
Publisher: UNESCO Publishing
ISBN: 9231004700
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 275
Book Description
The production and distribution of film and audiovisual works is one of the most dynamic growth sectors in the world. Thanks to digital technologies, production has been growing rapidly in Africa in recent years. For the first time, a complete mapping of the film and audiovisual industry in 54 States of the African continent is available, including quantitative and qualitative data and an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses at the continental and regional levels.The report proposes strategic recommendations for the development of the film and audiovisual sectors in Africa and invites policymakers, professional organizations, firms, filmmakers and artists to implement them in a concerted manner.
Publisher: UNESCO Publishing
ISBN: 9231004700
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 275
Book Description
The production and distribution of film and audiovisual works is one of the most dynamic growth sectors in the world. Thanks to digital technologies, production has been growing rapidly in Africa in recent years. For the first time, a complete mapping of the film and audiovisual industry in 54 States of the African continent is available, including quantitative and qualitative data and an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses at the continental and regional levels.The report proposes strategic recommendations for the development of the film and audiovisual sectors in Africa and invites policymakers, professional organizations, firms, filmmakers and artists to implement them in a concerted manner.
Comparative Agriculture
Author: Hubert Cochet
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9401798281
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
In the first section dedicated to theoretical thoughts on comparative agriculture, Hubert Cochet introduces the notion of “agricultural development”, the very subject of comparative agriculture, with a restored endogenous dimension. He then describes how this approach was slowly consolidated, around the concept of agrarian system in particular. The comparison of agricultural transformations in time and space highlights the importance of the comparatist approach to production processes, their trajectories and differentiation on a worldwide scale. The second section which focuses on the methods and expertise of comparative agriculture, tackles the issues of landscape analysis, field surveys and the historical approach underlying comparative agriculture. It sums up the economic tools mobilised as well as the evaluation perspectives opened up by comparative agriculture.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9401798281
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
In the first section dedicated to theoretical thoughts on comparative agriculture, Hubert Cochet introduces the notion of “agricultural development”, the very subject of comparative agriculture, with a restored endogenous dimension. He then describes how this approach was slowly consolidated, around the concept of agrarian system in particular. The comparison of agricultural transformations in time and space highlights the importance of the comparatist approach to production processes, their trajectories and differentiation on a worldwide scale. The second section which focuses on the methods and expertise of comparative agriculture, tackles the issues of landscape analysis, field surveys and the historical approach underlying comparative agriculture. It sums up the economic tools mobilised as well as the evaluation perspectives opened up by comparative agriculture.
FAO Investment Centre – Annual review 2020
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN: 9251345317
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 81
Book Description
The FAO Investment Centre provides a wide range of support services to help countries make more and better investments in food and agriculture. This review looks back at the work the Centre carried out with its partners in 2020. Despite a challenging year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre’s global team supported investment-related policy and sector studies to increase policy dialogue and contributed to the design, technical assistance, supervision or evaluation of investment projects in 120 countries. The Centre increasingly linked both its policy work with investment support to scale up impact. And it promoted greater knowledge sharing and innovation, while also helping to strengthen the capacity of people and institutions to make better investment decisions. The Centre continues to remain relevant by adapting its skills and expertise to keep pace with a constantly evolving investment landscape and fast-changing world and by advocating for more sustainable agri-food systems.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN: 9251345317
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 81
Book Description
The FAO Investment Centre provides a wide range of support services to help countries make more and better investments in food and agriculture. This review looks back at the work the Centre carried out with its partners in 2020. Despite a challenging year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre’s global team supported investment-related policy and sector studies to increase policy dialogue and contributed to the design, technical assistance, supervision or evaluation of investment projects in 120 countries. The Centre increasingly linked both its policy work with investment support to scale up impact. And it promoted greater knowledge sharing and innovation, while also helping to strengthen the capacity of people and institutions to make better investment decisions. The Centre continues to remain relevant by adapting its skills and expertise to keep pace with a constantly evolving investment landscape and fast-changing world and by advocating for more sustainable agri-food systems.
Africana Critical Theory
Author: Reiland Rabaka
Publisher: Lexington Books
ISBN: 0739128868
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 453
Book Description
Building on and going far beyond W.E.B. Du Bois and the Problems of the Twenty-First Century and Du Bois's Dialectics, Reiland Rabaka's Africana Critical Theory innovatively identifies and analyzes continental and diasporan African contributions to classical and contemporary critical theory. This book represents a climatic critical theoretical clincher that cogently demonstrates how Du Bois's rarely discussed dialectical thought, interdisciplinarity, intellectual history-making radical political activism, and world-historical multiple liberation movement leadership helped to inaugurate a distinct Africana tradition of critical theory. With chapters on W.E.B. Du Bois, C.L.R. James, Negritude (Aime Cesaire and Leopold Senghor), Frantz Fanon and Amilcar Cabral, Africana Critical Theory endeavors to accessibly offer contemporary critical theorists an intellectual archaeology of the Africana tradition of critical theory and a much-needed dialectical deconstruction and reconstruction of black radical politics. These six seminal figures' collective thought and texts clearly cuts across several disciplines and, therefore, closes the chasm between Africana Studies and critical theory, constantly demanding that intellectuals not simply think deep thoughts, develop new theories, and theoretically support radical politics, but be and constantly become political activists, social organizers and cultural workers - that is, folk the Italian critical theorist Antonio Gramsci referred to as 'organic intellectuals.' In this sense, then, the series of studies gathered in Africana Critical Theory contribute not only to African Studies, African American Studies, Caribbean Studies, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, and Postcolonial Studies, but also to contemporary critical theoretical discourse across an amazingly wide-range of 'traditional' disciplines, and radical political activism outside of (and, in many instances, absolutely against) Europe's ivory towers and the absurdities of the American academy.
Publisher: Lexington Books
ISBN: 0739128868
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 453
Book Description
Building on and going far beyond W.E.B. Du Bois and the Problems of the Twenty-First Century and Du Bois's Dialectics, Reiland Rabaka's Africana Critical Theory innovatively identifies and analyzes continental and diasporan African contributions to classical and contemporary critical theory. This book represents a climatic critical theoretical clincher that cogently demonstrates how Du Bois's rarely discussed dialectical thought, interdisciplinarity, intellectual history-making radical political activism, and world-historical multiple liberation movement leadership helped to inaugurate a distinct Africana tradition of critical theory. With chapters on W.E.B. Du Bois, C.L.R. James, Negritude (Aime Cesaire and Leopold Senghor), Frantz Fanon and Amilcar Cabral, Africana Critical Theory endeavors to accessibly offer contemporary critical theorists an intellectual archaeology of the Africana tradition of critical theory and a much-needed dialectical deconstruction and reconstruction of black radical politics. These six seminal figures' collective thought and texts clearly cuts across several disciplines and, therefore, closes the chasm between Africana Studies and critical theory, constantly demanding that intellectuals not simply think deep thoughts, develop new theories, and theoretically support radical politics, but be and constantly become political activists, social organizers and cultural workers - that is, folk the Italian critical theorist Antonio Gramsci referred to as 'organic intellectuals.' In this sense, then, the series of studies gathered in Africana Critical Theory contribute not only to African Studies, African American Studies, Caribbean Studies, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, and Postcolonial Studies, but also to contemporary critical theoretical discourse across an amazingly wide-range of 'traditional' disciplines, and radical political activism outside of (and, in many instances, absolutely against) Europe's ivory towers and the absurdities of the American academy.
Global Land Grabs
Author: Marc Edelman
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317569504
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 354
Book Description
Since the 2008 world food crisis a surge of land grabbing swept Africa, Asia and Latin America and even some regions of Europe and North America. Investors have uprooted rural communities for massive agricultural, biofuels, mining, industrial and urbanisation projects. ‘Water grabbing’ and ‘green grabbing’ have further exacerbated social tensions. Early analyses of land grabbing focused on foreign actors, the biofuels boom and Africa, and pointed to catastrophic consequences for the rural poor. Subsequently scholars carried out local case studies in diverse world regions. The contributors to this volume advance the discussion to a new stage, critically scrutinizing alarmist claims of the first wave of research, probing the historical antecedents of today’s land grabbing, examining large-scale land acquisitions in light of international human rights and investment law, and considering anew longstanding questions in agrarian political economy about forms of dispossession and accumulation and grassroots resistance. Readers of this collection will learn about the impacts of land and water grabbing; the relevance of key theorists, including Marx, Polanyi and Harvey; the realities of China’s involvement in Africa; how contemporary land grabbing differs from earlier plantation agriculture; and how social movements—and rural people in general—are responding to this new threat. This book was published as a special issue of Third World Quarterly.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317569504
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 354
Book Description
Since the 2008 world food crisis a surge of land grabbing swept Africa, Asia and Latin America and even some regions of Europe and North America. Investors have uprooted rural communities for massive agricultural, biofuels, mining, industrial and urbanisation projects. ‘Water grabbing’ and ‘green grabbing’ have further exacerbated social tensions. Early analyses of land grabbing focused on foreign actors, the biofuels boom and Africa, and pointed to catastrophic consequences for the rural poor. Subsequently scholars carried out local case studies in diverse world regions. The contributors to this volume advance the discussion to a new stage, critically scrutinizing alarmist claims of the first wave of research, probing the historical antecedents of today’s land grabbing, examining large-scale land acquisitions in light of international human rights and investment law, and considering anew longstanding questions in agrarian political economy about forms of dispossession and accumulation and grassroots resistance. Readers of this collection will learn about the impacts of land and water grabbing; the relevance of key theorists, including Marx, Polanyi and Harvey; the realities of China’s involvement in Africa; how contemporary land grabbing differs from earlier plantation agriculture; and how social movements—and rural people in general—are responding to this new threat. This book was published as a special issue of Third World Quarterly.
The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN: 9251316082
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 291
Book Description
The conservation, sustainable use and development of aquatic genetic resources (AqGR) is critical to the future supply of fish. The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is the first ever global assessment of these resources, with the scope of this first Report being limited to cultured AqGR and their wild relatives, within national jurisdiction. The Report draws on 92 reports from FAO member countries and five specially commissioned thematic background studies. The reporting countries are responsible for 96 percent of global aquaculture production. The Report sets the context with a review of the state of world’s aquaculture and fisheries and includes overviews of the uses and exchanges of AqGR, the drivers and trends impacting AqGR and the extent of ex situ and in situ conservation efforts. The Report also investigates the roles of stakeholders in AqGR and the levels of activity in research, education, training and extension, and reviews national policies and the levels of regional and international cooperation on AqGR. Finally, needs and challenges are assessed in the context of the findings from the data collected from the countries. The Report represents a snapshot of the present status of AqGR and forms a valuable technical reference document, particularly where it presents standardized key terminology and concepts.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN: 9251316082
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 291
Book Description
The conservation, sustainable use and development of aquatic genetic resources (AqGR) is critical to the future supply of fish. The State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is the first ever global assessment of these resources, with the scope of this first Report being limited to cultured AqGR and their wild relatives, within national jurisdiction. The Report draws on 92 reports from FAO member countries and five specially commissioned thematic background studies. The reporting countries are responsible for 96 percent of global aquaculture production. The Report sets the context with a review of the state of world’s aquaculture and fisheries and includes overviews of the uses and exchanges of AqGR, the drivers and trends impacting AqGR and the extent of ex situ and in situ conservation efforts. The Report also investigates the roles of stakeholders in AqGR and the levels of activity in research, education, training and extension, and reviews national policies and the levels of regional and international cooperation on AqGR. Finally, needs and challenges are assessed in the context of the findings from the data collected from the countries. The Report represents a snapshot of the present status of AqGR and forms a valuable technical reference document, particularly where it presents standardized key terminology and concepts.
Adapting pedagogy to cultural context
Author: Jovina Tibenda
Publisher: RTI Press
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 24
Book Description
This paper argues that many pedagogical reform efforts falter because they fail to consider the cultural context of teacher and student behavior. Little guidance exists on how to adapt teaching practices to be compatible with culturally influenced behaviors and beliefs. We present evidence from three studies conducted as part of a large basic education program in Tanzania showing that some teaching activities are less effective or not well implemented because of culturally influenced behaviors in the classroom, namely children’s lack of confidence to speak up in class; a commitment to togetherness, fairness, and cooperation; avoidance of embarrassment; and age-graded authority. We propose ways teaching activities can be adapted to take these behaviors into account while still adhering to fundamental principles of effective learning, including student participation in their own learning, teaching at the right level, and monitoring students as a basis for adjusting instruction. Such adaptations may be made most effective by engaging teachers in co-creation of teaching activities.
Publisher: RTI Press
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 24
Book Description
This paper argues that many pedagogical reform efforts falter because they fail to consider the cultural context of teacher and student behavior. Little guidance exists on how to adapt teaching practices to be compatible with culturally influenced behaviors and beliefs. We present evidence from three studies conducted as part of a large basic education program in Tanzania showing that some teaching activities are less effective or not well implemented because of culturally influenced behaviors in the classroom, namely children’s lack of confidence to speak up in class; a commitment to togetherness, fairness, and cooperation; avoidance of embarrassment; and age-graded authority. We propose ways teaching activities can be adapted to take these behaviors into account while still adhering to fundamental principles of effective learning, including student participation in their own learning, teaching at the right level, and monitoring students as a basis for adjusting instruction. Such adaptations may be made most effective by engaging teachers in co-creation of teaching activities.
Eliciting stakeholder perceptions using a novel online engagement platform
Author: Juliana M. Ruzante
Publisher: RTI Press
ISBN:
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 15
Book Description
Stakeholder engagement is an important component in developing policies on critical issues such as the use and development of novel methods and technologies, including biotechnologies and nanotechnologies. Understanding the perspectives, needs, and concerns of stakeholder groups can facilitate the development of transparent and trusted policy recommendations. Innovative online research platforms have been developed as alternatives to typical stakeholder engagement methods such as in-person focus groups, interviews, and online and paper surveys. These platforms facilitate the engagement of geographically and linguistically (i.e., individuals who speak different languages) diverse stakeholders using a wide range of methods, from virtual focus groups to surveys. Stakeholders can participate at their own leisure and anonymously, which can facilitate more open interactions on issues where viewpoints may differ. In this work, we used an online stakeholder engagement platform (OSEP) to engage stakeholders and capture their perceptions and views about the application of nanotechnology in food and agriculture (nano-agrifood) and the role of responsible innovation in the development of nano-agrifood products. The OSEP provided a reliable and interactive environment for stakeholders to share their views and exchange ideas. Such OSEPs should be further explored as novel tools for engaging stakeholders on a range of issues from emerging technologies to public health.
Publisher: RTI Press
ISBN:
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 15
Book Description
Stakeholder engagement is an important component in developing policies on critical issues such as the use and development of novel methods and technologies, including biotechnologies and nanotechnologies. Understanding the perspectives, needs, and concerns of stakeholder groups can facilitate the development of transparent and trusted policy recommendations. Innovative online research platforms have been developed as alternatives to typical stakeholder engagement methods such as in-person focus groups, interviews, and online and paper surveys. These platforms facilitate the engagement of geographically and linguistically (i.e., individuals who speak different languages) diverse stakeholders using a wide range of methods, from virtual focus groups to surveys. Stakeholders can participate at their own leisure and anonymously, which can facilitate more open interactions on issues where viewpoints may differ. In this work, we used an online stakeholder engagement platform (OSEP) to engage stakeholders and capture their perceptions and views about the application of nanotechnology in food and agriculture (nano-agrifood) and the role of responsible innovation in the development of nano-agrifood products. The OSEP provided a reliable and interactive environment for stakeholders to share their views and exchange ideas. Such OSEPs should be further explored as novel tools for engaging stakeholders on a range of issues from emerging technologies to public health.