A Co-Design Process Based On On-Farm Innovation Tracking To Build Creeping Thistle Control Strategies Suited To Local Issues

Summary

Disruptive innovation is needed to support organic agriculture, i.e. to think out of ‘conventional agriculture’ and to build innovative cropping systems suited to local issues. Indeed, it involves finding new way to work with these stakeholders while creating new cropping systems. This innovation process is particularly difficult when scientific knowledge is missing. This paper describes the implementation of an approach combining tracking on-farm innovations and co-design workshops to manage creeping thistle in arable organic farms in the Northern France context. A wide range of useful results for farmers and advisors has been produced (e.g. knowledge on innovative practices and on their combinations). Some key points are highlighted for the implementation of such approach, particularly, diversifying sources and type of knowledge to help stakeholders be disruptive.