Best practices and competencies of agricultural advisors supporting Interactive Innovation

Irish and European agriculture face significant challenges in terms of sustainability and food and nutrition security, which has been further challenged due to crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the escalating war in Ukraine. Making our food supply more sustainable brings about new challenges for actors in the food value chain. Innovation plays a key role in assisting actors in local systems to respond effectively to rapid changing environments. The EIP-AGRI recognises the key role agricultural advisors have in facilitating change through interactive innovation and therefore this new role requires an evolving set of competencies. This study examines the best practices and competencies of agricultural advisors assisting in interactive innovation. This research was conducted through the analysis of nine interactive innovation case studies from across Europe, and a survey of 56 respondents from agricultural extension managers across Europe. To add an Irish perspective a comparative analysis was conducted with the use of the current competency profile of Agricultural Development Officers (ADO) within Teagasc. Additionally, responses within the European survey of Teagasc managers were individually analysed to understand their current perspectives on what is required for interactive innovation. This was reinforced with the use of two semi-structured interviews of senior agricultural extension managers within Teagasc. On analysis of the data from the case studies and survey, an inventory of best practices and competencies contributing to successful interactive innovation was established. The study found that an extension organisation has a positive influence on the enabling environment of interactive innovation. The output of this research is a ‘Success Profile for Interactive Innovation’ which identifies the best practices, competencies and enabling environment for interactive innovation . As this is a relatively new and under researched area, these results offer a key foundation for the requirements of agricultural advisors in fostering interactive innovation. Through a comparative analysis of the success profile and the current competency profile of Teagasc ADO, similarities and differences were documented. Findings of these were reinforced by the key informant interviews, which show that despite some recent actions undertaken by the organisation, the awareness of the need for interactive innovation has not fully permeated the organisation. This is evidenced by the outdated competency profile for hiring, evaluation and promotion activities within the organisation. Organisational influences may affect the advancement of interactive innovation by agricultural advisors, and without actively encouraging these best practices and competencies they will continue to be undervalued within the organisation.