1. ICTs transforming agricultural science, research & technology generation Science Forum Workshop Theme 3

2. Conclusion
Much more participatory, collaborative, creative and ‘impactful’ agricultural science and innovation is possible by investing in ‘ICTs’
Not just for the scientists, but along the ‘chains’ of producers, traders, and consumers

3. Process Background paper ‘Thinkpiece’ papers and presentations
Discussion in small ‘buzz’ groups
Trends, opportunities, issues
‘Worldcafe’ discussions
Priorities in terms of investments, institutions and policies, and innovative processes
Approx 50 participants

4. AgScience for Development
ICT
Cutting
Edge
Trends
AgScience for Development
Opportunities
Issues
Priorities

5. Conclusion
Much more participatory, collaborative, creative and ‘impactful’ agricultural science and innovation is possible by investing in ‘ICTs’
Not just for the scientists, but along the ‘chain’ of producers, traders, and consumers

6. Enabling Trends Not should we, but how should we?
Pervasive low-cost connectivity
many ways to do this
Exponentially growing processing power
Clouds of sharable tools, applications, and intelligently-linked content and data
Ability to collect, analyse and re-use massive, distributed collections of data
People and ‘crowds’ empowered to create and manage information and knowledge

7. Opportunities
Researchers and other stakeholders connected and better able to collaborate
Enhanced information repositories, information exchange and dissemination
Increased participation of all actors in research and development processes, brings equity
Enhanced traceability for consumers
More demand-responsive research and development institutions

8. Issues to Address IPR, data security, privacy
Potential for further marginalisation of some actors
Coherence and interoperability of data/information & quality control
Fragility of human and institutional capacities
Language and literacy
Discovery of relevant information and putting it into use
Balancing competing demands and policy directions
Incentive structures and benefits

9. Directions Test ‘the conclusion’ more widely
Better understand the specificities of different AgScience domains
New tools and applications need to be tracked and learned about – indicators
Ensure widespread e-literacy
Open access and open standards