Teagasc, the Irish advisory service, plays a central role in supporting on-farm technical and social innovation. Through the provision of independent advice, a multitude of extension methods and tools and playing an active role in the innovation support system, Teagasc makes its presence felt with the farmers.

The Irish Pearls

Communication and Collaboration

The collaboration between the advisors of Teagasc and the farmers is characterized by a high level of trust, promoted through long-term, good relationships.

Farm partnership allows new arrangements.

Teagasc for example uses discussion groups as a vehicle for the innovation process, a method which both encourages and increases the trusting relationship between the advisors and the farmers.

Dissemination

Teagasc is focused on disseminating the results of their advisory service to the farmers and involve both the media and the farmers in their dissemination effort. On the one hand, the advisory service succeeds in securing good media coverage. On the other hand, the service sees to it that farmers are used as advocates towards other farmers, for instance by applying the Farm walk as a dissemination tool. It renders impressive results and also works as a networking event.

Other Stakeholders

Also, Teagasc has the ability to include a broad range of actors in the innovation process, such as the industry, and provides easy access to major players in the course of the innovation (including the government). The young farmers’ organisation is also included by Teagasc.

The Role of the Advisory Service

Through its highly skilled advisors who work on all levels from research to implementation, Teagasc is able to act in all stages of the innovation process and to provide fine-tuned advice on complicated issues.

The Greenacres Programme looks at paddock grazing.

Teagasc has one responsible advisor for the farm but sees to it that this key advisor has a whole team of experts to draw on. This team approach makes the innovation work and ensures that the innovation is implemented. In other words, Teagasc provides a complete package of advice for the farmers and for example succeeds in reacting fast to external challenges and providing better risk management for both the younger and older generations of farmers.

Furthermore, the advisory service provides training services to the actors of the agriculture and food industry and the rural communities.

All in all, as a government agency, Teagasc plays a very important role in the AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge Innovation System) in Eire.

Puzzles

  • Farmers will not change by nature – What does Teagasc do to improve advisors soft skills?
  • Is the innovation research-driven – “We know what is best for the farmers”?
  • Will too many services limit the space for the farmers to be innovative?
  • Is there too little diversity of options for the farmers to get advice and support?
  • Can the farmers trust that the advice is neutral when private companies are involved?
  • The solutions are for full time farmers – What about the part time farmers?
  • Why does the farmer put up with the fixed value chain?
  • Why doesn’t Teagasc (or others) address the problem of the monopolised market?
  • Aging population of farms – Is the programme “Registered Farm Partnership”, which deals with Farm Succession Plans, enough to cover the needs of the challenges?
  • Dependence of one individual as the central actor?
  • Is the long term strategy of the farm taken care of?

Proposals

  • Actively search for farmer entrepreneurs with new initiatives
  • Create more space for innovation by supporting new associations, NGOs or farmers’ organisations to try “out of the box” ideas
  • Put more effort in the marketing aspect?
  • Devote attention to understanding farmers’ lack of best practice uptake
  • Find solutions for part time farmers
  • Interaction with young farmers
  • Look at the marketing/consumer end of the value chain

Read more about the Irish Cross Visit.

Watch the Videos
Watch the videos from the Irish Cross Visit:
The Greenacres Programme looks at paddock grazing
Farm Partnership allows new arrangements
Economic Breeding Index helps farmers