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The results of the activity of the research/development sphere in the Republic of Moldova play an important role in dynamism of the sustainable development of the basic branches of the national economy: agriculture and the food industry. They contribute essentially to providing the country with agricultural raw materials and industrial processing products, sufficient for the needs of the domestic market and for export. Food security and food safety are closely related to the results of technological transfer of research and innovation results in the fields of agro biology and the food industry. The innovative cluster in these sectors of the economy of the Republic of Moldova consists of 9 biological institutes, 6 agricultural institutes and the State Agricultural University of Moldova. The present study also includes some issues of the impact of climate change and the decline of biodiversity, other challenges and risks to the development of agriculture and related branches of the country's economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to explore social, cultural and environmental factors that affect the collaborative production of agricultural knowledge within a public research organisation, as part of the wider research system. In order to effectively respond to the current, complex problems presented by society, collaborative interdisciplinary networking has become a crucial element of scientific practice. For this reason, fostering knowledge-sharing is an important concern of research organisations. The related literature indicates, however, that efforts to maximise knowledge flows within a research organisation might fail if socio-cultural aspects are overlooked. The research was conducted using a single case study design that involved a Brazilian agricultural research organisation, with qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews with twenty-six agricultural researchers and three information and knowledge professionals. Data analysis followed an inductive thematic coding approach, with support of the software Atlas-ti. It was found that the policy and organisational imperatives for collaboration in agricultural research is juxtaposed with competitive forces that emanate from the wider research system. In particular, research funding schemes, systems of resource allocation, quality control mechanisms, and performance evaluation and rewards. Competitive practices arise not only in relation to material resources, such as grants and research facilities, but also in relation to intangible resources, such as reputation and priority over ideas. These interrelated phenomena have a direct influence on the ways in which agricultural researchers relate to one another, creating intense competitiveness that acts as a barrier to knowledge flows. In turn, this results in crossdisciplinary synergies being under utilised and limits the formation of cross-departmental partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]