Small scale farming teaches important lessons on how to organize an innovation support service. It takes, among other things, networking skills, capacity building, and flexibility. Therefore, the innovation process of small scale farming is not all that different from that of large scale farming.

Pearls

The Importance of Networking

The village association of Viscri now has a milk collection point thanks to support from Innovation Norway. The price of milk obtained by the farmers has increased, and the number of cows is no longer declining.

In order to build strong and wide networks, it is important to have a sincere and empathetic approach to the community and to make use of VIPs and their networks. Also, it is key to map out roles within the network.

Funding

In the experience of ADEPT, flexible funding sources are essential for a successful innovation process. To achieve flexibility, you should strive for a good mix of both project and institutional funding. Also, it is important that you approach the application process with professionalism.

Diversification

With regard to funding, synergy between tourism activities and financial activities reduces reliance on only one income stream. Diversification is the way forward.

Capacity Building

The shepherds can improve their living conditions while staying with their flocks of sheep in the hills in the summer because the sheepfold project has provided solar panels.

When you start an innovation process you should first involve local people and build trust and then identify needs and develop innovative solutions in a partnership with the community. Furthermore, you should focus on developing sustainable solutions that make optimal use of local resources.

You should also see to it that you build resilience within the project group to ensure that the group is able to overcome the challenges it is sure to meet on the way towards innovation.

Ambition

For the innovation process to be a success, passion for the future of the territory is essential. While developing innovative solutions, the tradition of the area and its natural resources should therefore be respected and integrated into the process. In other words, the activities of the support service must fit closely with the needs of the people and the area.

Free Actor (ADEPT)

For an innovation support service such as ADEPT to act freely, it must be able to create pathways through and around the bureaucracy. In order for this to happen, a strong team with a good mix of skills is required.

The support service must also be able to empower communities to innovate, for example through pilot projects, by functioning as the interface between farmers and administrators and be flexible enough to react to problems as they arise.

Furthermore, a capacity to solve problems at both a local and a national level is key.

Puzzles

  • Can the model of ADEPT be scaled up to become more than a local initiative?
  • How do you succeed in empowering the farmers to move from being “survivors” to being “initiators”?
  • How is ADEPT turned into a permanent institution?
  • There is a lack of support organizations. Can farmers solve problems without advisory services?

Proposals

  • ADEPT should be on the lookout to recruit farmers as their managers.
  • Link up with other Romanian foundations and associations.
  • Cooperate more with the industry.
  • Look for partnership with private businesses.
  • Help farmers find the balance between traditional farming and an acceptable income.
  • Focus on the new generation.
  • Help establish the Regional Chambers of Agriculture with outside assistance.
  • Involve the authorities in ADEPT’s work.

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