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Digital technologies promise to transform agri-food systems such that they contribute to a more inclusive, economically, and/or environmentally sustainable future. However, without careful attention to the approaches for their introduction, development, and rollout, they are likely to fail to address key aspects of inclusion. Contemporary inclusive innovation mechanisms focus on the involvement of farmers in the innovation processes, but do not elucidate how to operationalize a deeper inclusivity that takes account of the nature of engagement with the farmers and dynamics of the relationships required for successful outcomes. This article analyzes the concept of inclusivity and its operationalization using the case of the Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organization (KALRO). We develop lines of inquiry on how inclusivity can be defined, sought and operationalized in digital agri-food systems. Based on a case study approach, we interviewed 36 stakeholders in the KALRO digital transformation initiative reflecting on literature discussions from secondary data. Primary and secondary data were synthesized to develop lines of inquiry that enabled a deeper exploration of inclusivity. KALRO's rollout and scale-up of digital agriculture technologies for farmers hinges on three evaluative criteria – usability, accessibility, and relevance – which are associated with aspirations for inclusive innovation. Despite these efforts, some technologies they developed included some farmers and excluded others. For the included, inclusion was limited to the accessibility of certain types of information while desired forms of information lacked sufficient mechanisms for access or were not made available. The practice of promoting access, usability and relevance of the technologies while has supported innovation for and with the farmers, there are still challenges in innovating with the farmer. The lines of inquiry "inclusive innovation with" and "inclusive innovation for" introduced in this paper not only help stakeholders gain a deeper, more nuanced and holistic understanding of inclusive innovation, they also reveal the complexity of inclusivity and its operationalization in agri-food systems that are digitalizing. This paper analyzes inclusivity from a practice perspective highlighting areas where the theoretical perspective and empirical observations diverge. The paper makes the case for meaningful changes in how inclusivity is approached, considering the practical needs and preferences of those directly impacted by innovation and the potential of operationalizing 'inclusive innovation with ' as a deeper and more effective approach to inclusive innovation. [Display omitted] • Operationalizing deeper inclusivity in digital technologies can transform agri-food systems. • Using a case study, we develop lines of inquiry for understanding how inclusivity can be understood and sought. • The study reveals the complexity of inclusivity and its operationalization. • Pursuing an approach that focusses on 'innovation for' the farmer has limitations in enhancing inclusivity. • The study identifies benefits of distinguishing and pursuing 'inclusive innovation with' beneficiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global food systems are confronted with multifaceted challenges, including climate change, malnutrition, and biodiversity loss, disproportionately affecting the livelihoods of millions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Recognizing its potential to address these challenges, innovation is increasingly central in public sector organizations. However, despite growing emphasis, the adoption of innovation portfolio management approaches remains limited. Drawing on a case study of CGIAR, a global research partnership dedicated to agricultural challenges, this paper seeks to accomplish two objectives. The primary objective is to produce a set of best practices in innovation portfolio management that can benefit public sector organizations. The secondary objective is to demonstrate how this offers an important precursor to guide organizational decision-making and investment towards responsible food system transformation. An in-depth analysis of CGIAR's approach to innovation portfolio management is based on qualitative and quantitative data from sources such as interviews, observations, documents, and archival records. The study adopts a descriptive case study approach, utilizing an analytical framework that recognizes the importance of methods, mindsets, and mechanisms in describing and analyzing the CGIAR case. Key lessons encompass the need for a holistic perspective on innovation portfolio management. The paper advocates for the integration of an innovation portfolio management approach within broader (1) organizational processes, including human resources, finance, legal frameworks, and risk management; and (2) innovation systems where food system transformation is the outcome of interactions and partnerships between government, public and private sector organizations. This study furnishes actionable guidance to public organizations seeking to harness innovation portfolio management for responsible and impactful food system transformation. [Display omitted] • Innovation portfolio management is underutilized in the public research and development sector. • CGIAR is mainstreaming an innovation portfolio management approach based on Scaling Readiness principles. • The objective is to enhance CGIAR's effectiveness and performance in achieving its 2030 research and innovation strategy. • Innovation portfolio management necessitates a holistic approach with investment in methods, mindsets, and mechanisms. • Integrating this approach into decision-making and program cycles serves as a significant incentive for its adoption and success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled release technology of chemical fertilizers is an important cornerstone for the efficient development of sustainable agriculture. Damage to the coating layer and fragmentation of particles during the application of controlled release fertilizers can lead to the loss of their controlled release properties, making the development of effective damage reduction operations a key focus in the study of such agricultural materials. Therefore, this paper employs the bonded particle model (BPM) method within the discrete element method (DEM) framework to investigate the mechanism of coating damage in controlled-release fertilizers. It establishes a classification of damage types based on the level of damaged particles as an effective analytical approach. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is conducted between the discrete element particle model (DEPM) method and the bonded particle model method in terms of their performance in discharge mechanics and flow characteristics. The results indicate that the breakage rate of fertilizer discharge is influenced by both the formation of a steady state and the depletion of the fertilizer load within the container, with an average breakage rate of 1.511% over the total period. Differences in the average maximum compression force and mass flow rate between the discrete element particle model group and the bonded particle model group were 60.355 N and 1.998 g/s, respectively, reflecting limitations imposed by the fertilizer models on expected damage deformation behaviors. This study elucidates the process and potential impacts of fertilizer particle damage and deformation, revealing the strengths and limitations of two simulation model approaches under different application conditions, providing insights for sustainable agricultural production and technological innovation in fertilization equipment. [Display omitted] • Construct of model using the reciprocating piston mechanical stacking method. • Breakage rate is affected by stable state formation and fertilizer consumption. • Particle quantity gradation forms the criterion for categorizing types of damage. • Damage types reflect overall trends, predominantly partial and missing types. • The presentation of damage deformations is constrained by the fertilizer model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural innovations are inclusive when they are used by any member of society who wants to use them. Conversely, agricultural innovations that can only be used by a specific privileged group within society can be characterized as "exclusive". The first objective of this paper is to examine the inclusivity of agricultural innovations in Ethiopia, using national representative data and considering a wide portfolio of innovations resulting from the collaborative research between CGIAR and its national partners. Second, we also examine how measurement error may affect how we characterize the inclusivity of agricultural innovations. We use nationally-representative survey data from Ethiopia (collected in 2018/19) in which best-practice measures of the adoption of a large number of agricultural innovations were embedded, including the adoption of CGIAR-related improved maize varieties measured using two different approaches: subjective, self-reported survey data; and objective DNA fingerprinting of crop samples taken from the same farmers' plots. A rich set of household variables is also collected in the survey, which allows characterizing the types of farmers that are adopting different innovations, and the extent to which conclusions regarding the inclusivity of innovations depends on the measurement of the latter. Many innovations are not disproportionately more likely to be adopted by male, larger, richer, or more connected farmers. When using self-reported data on adoption of improved maize varieties, adoption appears positively correlated with having larger landholdings and households with lower female participation in agriculture, and negatively correlated with poorer households (being among the bottom 40% of consumption distribution). Substituting survey responses with the results of DNA fingerprinting these correlations disappear, with farm size, gender and poverty status no longer predictive of adoption. The results suggest the potential value of offering a menu of innovations to farmers to increase inclusivity, as it allows each farmer to be a critical consumer of potential innovations and select those that best correspond to their own needs and constraints. We also highlight how important data quality is in ensuring we have correct information about inclusive innovation. [Display omitted] • Nationally representative data on adoption of agricultural innovations for Ethiopia. • Examines importance of representative samples and valid measurement in shaping understanding of inclusive innovation. • Patterns of inclusiveness are innovation-specific and can be subject to measurement error. • Objective measures (e.g. DNA fingerprinting for crop variety adoption) can provided unbiased picture of inclusive innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite accelerated developments in agricultural innovations, there has been a limited progress in their adoption by smallholder farmers, especially in the Global South. Innovations are not adequately reaching farmers, and new technologies are often unsuitable for farmers, or the overall innovation landscape is discouraging the deployment of innovations at scale. The methodological approaches to designing, testing and scaling of innovations play an important role. Involving farmers in the innovation process from the start increases the likelihood of them being more relevant and having a higher chance of adoption. Whereas there is much literature on participatory approaches, there is a limited guidance on choosing an appropriate level of farmer participation across the innovation process. This study aims to develop practical guidance for researchers, development agents and project managers on how to choose an appropriate methodological approach with a suitable level of farmer participation for designing, testing and scaling of agricultural innovations, according to levels of innovation readiness and innovation use. Relevant scientific literature on participatory design, research and scaling of agricultural innovations was reviewed, followed by compiling lessons learned from selected vegetable innovation projects implemented by the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) in Asia and Africa. A list of methodological approaches for participatory design, testing and scaling of innovations was generated, with various levels of farmer participation. A simple guiding framework was then developed for choosing an appropriate approach with a suitable level of farmer participation, according to the readiness and use of the innovations. Examples of selected approaches and application of the proposed guidance are given in project case studies. Based on the literature review and experience at WorldVeg, we believe it is critical to choose the right level of participation based on how ready are the innovations for application in the local setting. This dimension of how ready the innovations are has been largely overlooked in earlier frameworks on farmer participation. The developed guidance generally recommends increasing participation with higher levels of technology readiness and use. In addition, farmer consultation in early research design should also be strengthened, to co-design locally relevant innovations. The overall innovation systems' landscape must be considered when researching and scaling new innovations. The guidance, experiences and lessons provided in this paper will be useful to various scholars, researchers, development agents, funders and project managers who aim to design, test and scale agricultural innovations in a more inclusive and responsible way. [Display omitted] • Despite rapid developments in agricultural innovations, there has been limited adoption by smallholder farmers. • There is limited guidance on choosing an appropriate level of farmer participation in the innovation processes. • A list of participatory approaches for design, testing and scaling of innovations was created. • A guidance for choosing a suitable level of participation based on 'innovation readiness and use' was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional change strategies that prioritize transparency, fairness, and respect will advance inclusive agri-food systems innovation. This short communication posits that institutional change strategies are a linchpin, necessary for International Agricultural Research Centers to implement models promoting inclusive agri-food systems innovation. Models promoting inclusive innovation are pivotal for generating and advancing research for development actions tailored to specific contexts. Context-specific approaches demonstrate superior adaptability compared to universal actions. They contribute to the effectiveness of agriculture research for development, particularly in times of increasing volatility and inadequate progress toward global sustainability and equity goals. Targeted institutional change strategies foster three sister strategies that bolster inclusive innovation: navigating trade-offs; enhancing partnerships; and diversifying measurement. The paper stems from consultations within the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) and ISDC's related advising to CGIAR. Institutional change is the linchpin among four strategies identified by ISDC for driving inclusive agri-food systems innovation in Agriculture Research for Development. [Display omitted] • Context specific actions are needed to address gaps in progress toward global sustainability and equity goals. • Inclusive agri-food system innovation models generate and promote context-specific actions. • Strategies exist to advance inclusive agri-food system innovation models in agricultural research for development (AR4D). • Institutional change strategies are a cornerstone for inclusive and effective AR4D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate services are integral to climate change adaptation in agriculture. Inclusive innovation prioritises inclusion of marginalised actors, grassroots knowledge and accessibility of use. Yet many innovation processes are multi-stakeholder, complex and may not prioritise inclusion from the outset. In these circumstances, researchers and designers may seek to influence existing projects towards greater inclusivity. This paper explores efforts to increase the inclusivity of existing innovation processes, focusing on the design of My Climate View, an online Australian climate services platform for agriculture. Findings relate to contemporary issues in inclusive innovation literature, including: (1) Who should be included in innovation processes (within given resourcing)?; (2) How requirements for inclusion or exclusion can emerge through the design and use of a technology; and (3) The influence of program level structures upon inclusivity and design. Our approach is informed by Responsible Innovation and Inclusive Innovation theory and enacted through user-centred design. Findings are synthesised from analysis of 60 semi-structured interviews with farmers, advisors and extension officers. We additionally draw on observations as researchers in the multi-actor My Climate View development team, where extensive engagement separate to research activities has included agricultural and Indigenous stakeholders. Engaging with a broad sample of potential target users enabled diverse and sometimes unexpected use cases. Customisation of interface parameters allowed the incorporation of tacit knowledge and positively affected the inclusivity of My Climate View, extending the value of the platform to growers of niche commodities outside of the original scope. Inclusivity in innovation can be impacted by diverse factors, including design team decisions, structural factors, budget and external factors. Requirements for inclusion and exclusion can emerge and evolve throughout a design process, supporting Responsible Innovation's framing of inclusivity alongside principles of reflexivity and responsiveness. The findings enrich the evidence base for climate services and broader agricultural technology development processes by providing insights for those seeking greater impact by practicing inclusivity in innovation. We provide four implications for increasing inclusivity in the design of climate services: (1) Maximising customisation and avoiding prescriptive interpretation enables greater flexibility of use; (2) Sampling broadly within target users to uncover unanticipated values and opportunities for inclusion and exclusion; (3) It is important to embed efforts towards inclusion alongside processes of reflexivity; and (4) Responsible and inclusive approaches to climate services design are valuable even if brought in once development has commenced. [Display omitted] • Explores the challenges of steering a largescale climate services innovation project towards greater inclusivity. • Maximising customisation options for users and avoiding prescriptive interpretation enables greater flexibility of use. • Responsible and inclusive approaches to climate services design are valuable even if adopted once development has commenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study focused on the analysis of phytosanitary treatment sales in the Souss Massa region of Morocco. The objective of the study is to predict the sales of agricultural products, particularly crop protection solutions, aiming to optimize supply chain operations and meet customer demand effectively. Data for this study are collected from multiple sources, including the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system called Microsoft Dynamics AXAPTA used by a leading agricultural company operating in the region. Information such as the date of sale, farming type, climate, and specific sales locations within the Sous Massa region is gathered. Machine learning techniques are applied for forecasting. Various regression models, including the Gradient Boosting Regressor algorithm, are employed to determine the most accurate predictor. Evaluation of the models reveals promising results, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.0035 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.0066. The results obtained by applying various regression models, including the Gradient Boosting Regressor algorithm, demonstrate promising prediction scores. These findings contribute to the field of sales prediction in the agricultural industry while considering the impact of climate conditions, farming practices, and regional factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key strategy in progressing towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is scaling innovations to improve livelihoods of marginalized populations globally. Consequently, there has been a heightened emphasis on Agriculture Research for Development (AR4D) innovation teams' ability to swiftly identify innovations that can be scaled for broad impact. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the equitable distribution of benefits among different demographic groups, leading to documented unintended consequences affecting some of the most marginalized communities. To effectively contribute to the SDGs and avoid harm to specific groups, AR4D innovation teams must conscientiously consider various dimensions of diversity, including gender and other relevant factors. Our objective is to introduce GenderUp, a new conversational method for responsible scaling, oriented to making scaling initiatives more inclusive and anticipatory of socially differentiated trade-offs. This new AR4D scaling tool seeks to ensure that scaling efforts not only contribute effectively to the SDGs but also consider and mitigate unintended consequences for marginalized communities. This paper describes a new socially responsible scaling tool. Starting with a defined innovation, GenderUp helps: i) identify relevant diversity and intersectionality among intended innovation users; and ii) re-direct scaling strategies to better anticipate and mitigate unintended consequences for specific social groups. Through a series of five stages, a GenderUp facilitator guides teams through discussions, learning activities, and practical integration to develop a socially responsible scaling strategy. We provide details about each stage and reflect on the results of two early pilot experiences. There is a need for increased recognition of the distribution of innovation benefits based on dimensions of diversity. GenderUp is proposed as a new method to systematically address social differentiation in the scaling of AR4D innovation. GenderUp supported two different innovation and scaling teams to rethink their scaling strategies. Both innovation teams identified at-risk intersectional profiles and made adjustments to their scaling strategies to ensure these groups were not harmed by the innovation or scaling activities. These promising examples suggest that GenderUp provides a simple ex-ante analysis that can reduce unintended consequences more broadly within AR4D. Although gender and social equity are prioritized globally there are very few experts, tools, and systems in place to achieve these cross-cutting goals. While GenderUp only addresses innovation at the scaling stage, it is a step towards systemizing responding to social differentiation within AR4D to at least do no harm, and at best improve social outcomes. [Display omitted] • Research for Development actors increasingly rely on achieving Sustainable Development Golas through scaling innovation. • Gender and social equity are global priorities, but tools for addressing social differentiation in scaling are lacking. • Based on Responsible Research and Gender studies, GenderUp is a method for more equitable agricultural innovation scaling. • GenderUp guides innovation teams through five stages emphasizing conversations, learning, reflexivity, and integration. • GenderUp fosters a socially responsible scaling strategy, helping to advance gender-positive and socially equitable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural waste is large in number and the utilization rate is extremely low in China, requiring remediated. Formatting the project system and introducing the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode are inevitable to realize the specialization and socialization in resource utilization of agricultural wastes. However, the confusion of financing, management, responsibilities of participants and difficulties in coordinating interests limit the expected effect of the resource utilization of agricultural wastes (RUAW). To this end, combined with the examination of actual cases, this paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model of RUAW PPP projects among local government, social capital and farmers, then conducts simulation and case study. We find that the local government does not supervise, social capital acts opportunistically, and farmers choose to cooperate is the evolutionary stable situation, and the cost of supervision for local government and the reward and punishment mechanism of local government to social capital will largely influence the strategy choice of the stakeholders. Strengthening the local government's sense of responsibility and regulatory capacity, optimizing the reward and punishment system, vigorously making technological innovations, and improving the operational capacity of the special purpose vehicle can effectively improve the efficiency of cooperation. The results of the study have some guiding significance for further improving the level of circular agriculture in China even in developing countries and forming a more complete system of resource utilization of agricultural wastes. • The PPP model was used in projects of resource utilization of agricultural wastes. • The local government plays an important role in coordinating between social capital and farmers. • The probability that the social capital will act opportunistically in the PPP project is extremely high. • Farmers' willingness to cooperate is sometimes fragile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]