How to foster agroecological innovations? A comparison of participatory design methods

• Published in: Journal of environmental planning and management Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 280 - 301
• Main Authors: Berthet, Elsa T.A., Barnaud, Cécile, Girard, Nathalie, Labatut, Julie, Martin, Guillaume
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.02.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis (Routledge): STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles
• Subjects: Agrarian structures; Agriculture; agroecology; Biodiversity and Ecology; Boards; Co-design; Comparative analysis; Computer simulation; Design; Design analysis; Design engineering; design methods; Design techniques; Environment management; Environmental regulations; Environmental Sciences; Exploration; Forages; Games; Implementation; Innovation; Innovations; Interest groups; Knowledge management; Natural resource management; Natural resources; participatory methods; Resource management; Simulation; Studies; Workshops; innovation; knowledge management; design methods; participatory methods; agroecology
• ISSN: 1360-0559; 0964-0568; 1360-0559
• DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2015.1009627

Facing contemporary environmental crisis implies fostering agroecological innovations that take into account local ecological regulations and rely on multiple stakeholders' innovation capacities. This paper draws on two fields of literature that remain unconnected so far: participatory approaches and design sciences. It proposes an analysis grid to support a reflexive analysis of cases of implementation of three participatory design methods: ComMod (Companion Modelling for concerted management of natural resources), Forage Rummy (simulation-based board game for designing farming systems) and KCP (collective design workshops to foster innovation). This analysis highlights key features of the methods in view of agroecological innovation challenges, focusing on knowledge management and organisation for exploration.