New Publication: Dynamics of Rural Innovation

KIT is very pleased to announce the publication of a new book for young professionals and undergraduate (BSc) and master (MSc) students on the theory and practice of ‘innovation systems’.

Dynamics of Rural Innovation – a primer for emerging professionals is a co-publication of KIT and Wageningen University’s Centre for Development Innovation (CDI) that brings together the experiences of over 40 conceptual thinkers and development practitioners. They share their lessons on agricultural innovation processes and social learning.

Challenges for new generation agricultural professionals

The publication supports rural development and a new generation of practitioners as enablers and facilitators of stakeholder-led innovation. Rhiannon Pyburn: “Feeding the world in a sustainable and fair way is the challenge that a new generation of agricultural professionals must face. This will demand not just technological solutions but a whole package of social, economic, market and political innovations. Central to this challenge is enabling people and organisations with different perspectives and different interests to work creatively together.” All this demands new ways of thinking and new sets of competencies. This book provides a sound foundation for higher education and research institutes to support emerging professionals to creatively and effectively engage in rural innovation processes.

Dynamics: changing contexts and people

The book is about the dynamics of rural innovation – how to work with the changing nature of both the context and the people involved in rural innovation processes and how to facilitate networks of stakeholders to stimulate innovation. Inspiring stories illustrate how different people – from farmers to extension officers, business leaders, traders, NGO staff and policy makers – have collaborated to make new and successful things happen. Part One – From principles to practice – covers important background and concepts that flesh out the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ of innovation dynamics. Part Two – Getting the process right – looks at the ‘how’ of facilitating innovation and who plays this role. And, Part Three – Dealing with the context – looks at the role of the broader context exploring when and under which conditions innovation can be enabled.

Get your own copy

Download your pdf version for free. A hard copy can be ordered at LM Publishers
Would you like to know more about our work in rural innovation? Have a look at our agricultural innovation theme-page or contact: Rhiannon Pyburn