Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge Kari Doerksen with Cami Ryan, Elias Nelson and Peter W.B. Phillips ICABR, Ravello, Italy June 2013

 food security, knowledge and uncertainty  what do we mean by knowledge mobilization (KMb)?  Synthesis, dissemination & exchange  KMb models  implications for agri-food presentation outline Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge

 pressing public policy issue  mouths to feed, demand to meet  requires technological change and innovation food security Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge   problem:  uncertain  new ideas, new technologies, new products and new organizational structures - uncertain   regulatory inertia   Innovation ‘deficit’

“Inability to access, synthesize and judge knowledge claims and new research discoveries is often cited by policy advisors and regulators as a major impediment to making efficient and effective decisions.” the KMb impetus Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge

 ‘knowledge to action’  range of strategies and relationships that link research with policy and practice what is knowledge mobilization (KMb)? 5 Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge

“…multi-dimensional, longer-term, purposeful, and interactive nature of the work in comparison to earlier terms that seem to imply a one-directional or linear move from research to practice…” (Cresco et al 2011)  KMb is a social process  knowledge synthesis, dissemination and exchange are critical components why the interest in KMb? 6

 “…contextualization and integration of research findings of individual research studies within the larger body of knowledge on the topic…” (CIHR 2013)  must be reproducible and transparent in its methods, using quantitative and/or qualitative methods KMb: synthesis Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge

 “active process to communicate results to potential users by targeting, tailoring and packaging the message for a particular target audience” (CIHR 2013)  involves active collaboration and exchange  strategies include events, media engagement, using a knowledge broker and developing researcher/knowledge user networks  build on trust and frequent interactions enhance the effectiveness (Gagnon, 2009)  evaluation KMb: dissemination & exchange Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge

analysis 9  Biosafety Clearing House (BCH)  Center for Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA)  Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology (PIFB)

Key operational components 1.Clearly articulated mandate 2.Knowledge focus / identifiable methodology:  synthesis, dissemination/exchange, continuous evaluation/audits 3.Broad stakeholder engagement  balance of expertise  clearly defined roles  opportunities for connecting and networking among them 4.Bias mitigation protocols KMb models Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge

Cochrane Collaboration Agri-Food BCHCERAPIFB Clearly articulated mandate/goal Longevity Long-termShort-term Knowledge focus systematic reviews decentralized targeted knowledge products fractured government and regulatory documents articles, reports, virtual library workshops bibliographic / GM crop knowledge data reports; issue briefs; fact sheets; “data visualizations;” conferences Method Knowledge delivery; target: policy process & public repository; with competency in translating knowledge into different languages bridge research and decision- making knowledge delivery; target: policy process

Cochrane Collaboration Agri-Food BCHCERAPIFB Synthesis highminimum to nilsome; inconsistent (articles only) high Dissemination / Exchange high; decentralizedminimum to moderate moderate; inconsistent moderate Evaluation/audits unclear Unknown Stakeholder participation broadmoderatenarrow; limited (ILSI RF) narrow; limited (PCT Trusts)  Expertise unclear  Roles (singular/multip le) unclear  Engagement/ne tworking unclear Bias mitigation unclear

Accountability ResponsibilityTransparency Structure&Resources Knowledge&Uncertainty Problem Solving Outcomes

 short term  engagement, networking, stakeholder/end expertise and roles are either missing or are not clearly articulated  BCH – engagement but fragmented, synthesis challenges  accountability, transparency, responsibility (Phillips, 2007) ag biotech observations Mobilizing Agri-Food Knowledge

 longer-term, purposeful, and interactive nature  incentives for end-users and researchers to engage?  methodological rigor and consistency  time to response  cultural considerations – global initiative  $$$$$$$$$$$ challenges 15

Acknowledgements Cami Ryan Peter Phillips