Australian Extension Issues A system undergoing change…. securing global food prosperity

Australian Extension Issues Extension trends Drivers/issues in Australia State overview in Australia Issues: – Rate & Scope – Smart Design – Innovation Systems securing global food prosperity

Extension trends over last 50 years Diffusion of Innovations/Technology Transfer – 1960’s+, Linear/pipeline approach, single issue focus, productivity focus, research/science push, behaviour change, technology adoption/uptake Ag Knowledge & Information Systems – 1990’s+, participatory approach, interdisciplinary, knowledge & technology, farmer empowerment, co- production, local adaptation & farm business Agricultural Innovation Systems – 2000’s+, co-development, transdisciplinary, value chains, shared learning, responding to change, capacities to innovate and respond securing global food prosperity

Australia – drivers/issues Public sector ‘reform’  role of government Funding base, value proposition, effectiveness and efficiency Role of private sector – agribusiness & industry groups – especially re productivity & co- investment Explicit focus on partnerships & collaboration Success  address market failure, market penetration, practice change National Research, Development & Extension framework  linkage to R&D funding securing global food prosperity

State overview in Australia Reduced budgets – across all states Extension capability retained in government – Vic, Qld, SA; transferred in NSW/WA/Tas Clear model – Vic (mixed public/private), NSW/WA – focus at landholder level &/or private Partnership/collaboration focus – Vic, NSW, WA Increased online/eExtension focus – across all states securing global food prosperity

Rate & Scope Scope of change – the ‘market’ for the change – Potential adopters – How well the innovation fits with farm context – Scope for segmentation to clarify real adopters Rate of change - how quickly the change will occur – Focus of extension to increase rate – Role of voluntary vs obligatory approaches securing global food prosperity

Smart Design securing global food prosperity

Innovation Systems From knowledge brokering (research push) to systemic facilitation (market pull) Role of innovation broker or systemic facilitator  – Articulation of problems and possibilities – Network composition and linkages – Supporting negotiation and learning networks. securing global food prosperity

Scientist Research / Field Station District Agronomist Grower Market (eg. AWB) Past - LINEAR, RELATIVELY REGULATED CONTINUUM Now - MULTI-DIMENSIONAL, DEREGULATED, MATRIX DPI CSIRO UNIVERSITIES RIRDC L&W CMAs GRDC MERCHANTS CHEM, FERT & SEED COs NVT, BREEDING COs GRAIN TRADERS JOURNALS, MEDIA, NET CONSULTANTS GROWER GROUPS BANKS LOCAL AUTHORITIES DCE EPA ‘E’ zone ‘D’ zone ‘R’ zone Source: Adapted from Fellowes, 2009 DPI Agricultural environment – changing times & models