The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and Southern Voice are collaborating to develop a pivotal background paper for FAO Office of Innovation (OIN) 2025 flagship report, titled ‘Accelerating Innovation in Agrifood Systems: Achieving more inclusive, Resilient, Efficient and Sustainable Outcomes’. This paper will explore the existing paradigms within agrifood systems and examine how democratising science, technology and innovation (STI) processes can drive positive transformation.
The paper aims to identify and map key paradigms influencing agrifood interventions and governance. By highlighting the tensions and trade-offs between linear and systems-orientated approaches, and between significant “big push” interventions such as the green revolution as opposed to approaches such as agroecology, the research will illuminate how different paradigms shape STI investments and institutional arrangements. Case studies and evidence-based examples will illustrate how inclusive and participative STI approaches can enhance equity and resilience within agrifood systems, as well as the consequences of failing to adopt such approaches. The paper will also explore the roles and interactions of various actors, including policymakers, researchers and businesses, in supporting a movement towards greater democratisation of STI in agrifood systems.
To ensure the paper is comprehensive and impactful, IDS and Southern Voice will engage in a collaborative, evidence-based development process. A write-shop in Brighton will bring together team members and external resource persons with different knowledges to shape and strengthen the report, fostering a dynamic environment of debate and knowledge sharing. This collaborative effort will produce an accessible and engaging final background paper. It will also make a significant contribution to the framing and content of the opening chapter of the ATIO 2025 flagship publication, supporting a forward-looking agenda for democratising decision-making, governance, and STI policy in agrifood systems.
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