scholarly journals The Defining Characteristics of Agroecosystem Living Labs

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1718
Author(s):  
Chris McPhee ◽  
Margaret Bancerz ◽  
Muriel Mambrini-Doudet ◽  
François Chrétien ◽  
Christian Huyghe ◽  
...  

In response to environmental, economic, and social challenges, the living labs approach to innovation is receiving increasing attention within the agricultural sector. In this paper, we propose a set of defining characteristics for an emerging type of living lab intended to increase the sustainability and resilience of agriculture and agri-food systems: the “agroecosystem living lab”. Drawing on first-hand knowledge of case studies of large initiatives from Canada and France and supported by eight other cases from the literature, we highlight the unique nature of agroecosystem living labs and their distinct challenges with respect to their aims, activities, participants, and context. In particular, these living labs are characterized by exceptionally high levels of scientific research; long innovation cycles with high uncertainty due to external factors; and the high number and diversity of stakeholders involved. Both procedurally and conceptually, we link to earlier efforts undertaken by researchers seeking to identify urban living labs and rural living labs as distinct, new types of living labs. By highlighting what makes agroecosystem living labs unique and their commonalities with other types of living labs, we hope to encourage their further study and help practitioners better understand their implementation and operational challenges and opportunities.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-57
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Baran

AbstractObjective: The aim of the research is to develop a new original concept of social innovation lab based on the concept of living labs seen from the perspective of design-led approach to management and innovation.Methodology: The research was carried out with use of non-empirical (theoretical) framework. The existing knowledge was the source of reasoning leading to solve the scientific problem. It was rather implicit two-stage process of reasoning. The first stage was to reframe the conceptual framework, which was based on the analysis of the living lab concept seen from the perspective of the unique nature of social innovation and its limits. In the second stage, prototyping of a new concept of social innovation living lab was built on the conceptual framework developed at the first stage.Findings: The original theoretical model of social innovation living lab and its operationalization have been developed. It is based on the concept of living labs regarded as long term environments for open innovation that are being developed with real users in real contexts, and framed from the perspective of design-led approach to management and innovation.Value Added: The literature review has revealed the significant lack of research studies on the processes of generating social innovation. The proposed original model of social innovation living lab helps fill this gap. Social innovations as successful exploitation of new ideas to meet social problems and needs are essential in social and economic life. However, the conventional approaches to innovation are not sufficient to develop social innovation due to its nature. The proposed approach describes the operation of the social innovation living lab as an effective way to develop such innovations and at the same time the methodology useful in the further research.Recommendations: The proposed original approach to the processes of designing and accomplishing social innovation can help to develop such innovations in a more intentional and goal-oriented way, which is difficult using traditional laboratories due to the nature of such innovations.


Author(s):  
Vanya Slavchevska ◽  
Susan Kaaria ◽  
Sanna Liisa Taivalmaa

Male outmigration from rural, primary agricultural areas and the globalization of agri-food systems have both been linked to a significant increase in women’s work and responsibilities in agriculture, a phenomenon referred to as the ‘feminization of agriculture’. While the term has been broadly used to bring attention to the increasing number of women, relative to men, in agricultural employment, little attention has been paid to what the ‘feminization of agriculture’ means for women’s empowerment and their roles in agriculture more generally. Similarly, there is no clear understanding of how this will impact the agricultural sector and what the consequences for food and water security are. This chapter reviews the global evidence surrounding the “feminization of agriculture” and provides a critical discussion of the implications for women’s empowerment and for food and water security.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 146045822098727
Author(s):  
Federico Cuomo ◽  
Nadia Lambiase ◽  
Antonio Castagna

Cities with their innovative capacity are key places to address critical climate, environmental and health challenges. Urban experimentations, such as Living Labs, can represent a starting point to reintroduce resources into the production cycle and reduce environmental impacts, embracing the paradigm of the circular economy (CE). According to recent studies, Living Labs at a city scale could generate significant environmental benefits, improvements in quality of life and positive impacts on citizens’ health.1 This paper aims at presenting the case of the Torino Living Lab on Sharing and Circular Economy (LLSC) to point out possible future scenarios of urban sustainable policies. The case study is analysed in five sections: (1) the description of the new permanent laboratory proposed by the City of Turin; (2) the past experiences of Living Labs in Turin; (3) the birth of LLSC and the involvement strategy; (4) the introduction of the eight admitted experimentations. In the light of the results collected, the last paragraph (5) came up with the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Treaths (SWOT) analysis in the LLSC. Eventually, it deals with the research question by offering a common ground for global and local policies focused on sustainability and CE.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Luisa Cantù ◽  
Daniel Schepis ◽  
Roberto Minunno ◽  
Greg Morrison

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of relational governance in innovation platform development, specifically investigating the context of living labs. Design/methodology/approach Two longitudinal case studies are presented, derived from auto-ethnographic narratives, qualitative interviews and secondary documents, which cover the critical stages in the development of each living lab. Findings Empirical insights demonstrate the relevance of coordination activities based on joint planning and activities to support innovation platform development across different stages. The governance role of research actors as platform activators is also identified. Practical implications The paper offers a useful perspective for identifying collective goals between living lab actors and aligning joint activities across different stages of living lab development. Social implications The case provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for collaboration between academia, industry and users to support sustainable construction innovation. Originality/value A relational governance mode is identified, going beyond top down or bottom up approaches, which contributes a new understanding of how collective goals align within a relational space.


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Winda Ayuning Lestari ◽  
Eny Lestari ◽  
Eksa Rusdiyana

This research aims to analyze the level of community participation in the development of the agropolitan area Cash for Works Program, analyzing internal factors and external factors that influence community participation; and analyze the relationship between internal factors and external factors of participation with the level of community participation in the development of the agropolitan area Cash for Works Program in Tasikmadu Village, Palang District, Tuban Regency. This study uses quantitative methods with survey techniques. The research location is in Tasikmadu Village, Palang District, Tuban Regency because there is an agropolitan area of star fruit plantation. The sampling technique by multistage cluster random sampling was 69 respondents. Data analysis using Spearman Rank correlation test. The results of the study showed: (1) Age of the community included in the category of age 36-55 years, with an average level of education graduating from high school / equivalent, land ownership area ≤ 0.3 ha, income level of the agricultural sector>2.1 million, length live on average>21 years, with the level of cosmopolitan including very low category and stakeholders including quite active category. (2) The level of community participation is included in the category of moderate participation and is on the consultation ladder. (3) Spearman's Rank correlation test shows that internal and external factors that are significantly related to community participation are the extent of land ownership, income level and the level of cosmopolitan, while age, education level, length of stay, and stakeholders are not significantly related.


Economics ◽  
2015 ◽  
pp. 445-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seppo Leminen ◽  
Mika Westerlund

Living labs provide a new, under researched form of open innovation. Although open innovation is increasingly popular in service development, extant literature lacks knowledge of different open service innovation strategies, which companies can employ. This chapter focuses on strategies that firms can take in co-creating service innovations through living labs. The authors found nine open service innovation strategies based on an analysis of 26 living labs in four countries. Understanding of strategies and their links with incremental or radical innovation outcomes aid managers to set up an efficient innovation management. Knowledge of various strategies helps companies to succeed in service development and innovation novelty assessment based on the characteristics of the living lab.


GeoTextos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Luiza Barbosa Dias ◽  
Juscelino Eudâmidas Bezerra

<p>O setor agrícola foi severamente afetado pela pandemia de Covid-19, gerando incertezas sobre a produção e a distribuição de alimentos, o que afetou diretamente o trabalho de milhões de agricultores. Este artigo visa a analisar o impacto da pandemia na produção de alimentos em Brasília-DF, especialmente entre os agricultores assentados/acampados da reforma agrária. Para a análise, foram utilizados dados primários obtidos através de um questionário on-line destinado ao público da reforma agrária em áreas rurais das regiões administrativas da capital federal, além de dados secundários, disponibilizados por instituições públicas. Os resultados mostraram que o impacto da pandemia foi intenso entre os agricultores, deixando-os extremamente vulneráveis, principalmente nos meses iniciais da pandemia. Como forma de enfretamento dos efeitos da pandemia, os trabalhadores adotaram quatro medidas específicas: a utilização do serviço de entrega delivery; a venda de cestas agroecológicas; a participação em redes solidárias e a venda direta em feira de reforma agrária. Essas novas dinâmicas de comercialização têm transformado as formas de interação campo-cidade ao demandar estratégias diferenciadas para alcançar os consumidores finais, contribuindo para amenizar os efeitos disruptivos da pandemia nos sistemas alimentares locais.</p><p><span>Abstract</span></p><p>IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON FOOD PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIALIZATION IN BRASILIA-DF: CHALLENGES FOR AGRARIAN REFORM SETTLERS/CAMPED</p><p>The agricultural sector was severely affected by the pandemic of Covid-19, genera- ting uncertainties about food production and distribution, which directly affected the work of millions of farmers. This article aims to analyze the impact of the pandemic on food production in Brasília-DF, especially among farmers settled in agrarian reform settlements. The analysis used primary data obtained through an on-line questionnaire addressed to the public of agrarian reform in rural areas of the administrative regions of the federal capital, as well as secondary data made available by public institutions. The results showed that the impact of the pandemic was intense among farmers, leaving them extremely vulnerable, especially in the initial months of the pandemic. As a way of countering the effects of the pandemic, workers have adopted four specific measures: the use of delivery services; the salof agro-ecological baskets; participation in solidarity networks; and direct sales at agrarian reform fairs. These new commercialization dynamics have transformed the forms of countryside-city interaction by demanding different strategies to reach final consumers, contributing to mitigate the pandemic’s disruptive effects on local food systems.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Despoina Petsani ◽  
Sara Ahmed ◽  
Vasileia Petronikolou ◽  
Eva Kehayia ◽  
Mika Alastalo ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND VITALISE is a H2020 project that aims to harmonize Living Lab procedures and facilitate the access to European Health and Wellbeing research infrastructures. In this context, this study presents a joint research activity (JRA) that will be conducted within VITALISE, in transitional care domain, in order to test and validate the harmonized Living Lab procedures and infrastructures. The collection of data from various sources (ICT, clinical and patient reported outcome measures) demonstrated capacity to assess risk and support decision during care transitions but there is no harmonized way of combining this information. OBJECTIVE This study primarily aims to evaluate the feasibility and benefit of collecting multichannel data across Living Labs on the topic of transitional care and to harmonize the data processes and collection. Secondly, we aim to investigate the collection and use of digital biomarkers and explore initial patterns in the data that demonstrate the potential to predict transition outcomes such as readmissions and adverse events. METHODS The current research protocol presents a multi-center, prospective, observational cohort study that will consist of three phases, running consecutively in multiple sites: a co-creation phase, a testing and simulation phase and a transnational pilot phase. The co-creation phase aims to build a common understanding among different sites, investigate the differences of hospitalization discharge management among countries and the willingness of different stakeholders to use technological solutions in the transitional care process. The testing and simulation phase aims to explore ways of integrating observation of a patient’s clinical condition, patient involvement and discharge education in transitional care. The objective of the simulation phase is to evaluate the feasibility and the barriers that are faced by a healthcare professional in assessing transition readiness. The transnational pilot phase takes input from co-creation and testing and stimulation phase. The aim is to pilot the already designed activities from previous phases and collect data to conduct a first predictive analysis. RESULTS The co-creation phase will be completed by April 2022. The testing and simulation phase will begin in September 2022 and will partially overlap with the deployment of the transnational pilot phase that will start the same month. The data collection of the transnational pilots will be finalized by the end of June 2023. Data processing is expected to be completed by March 2024. The results will consist of guidelines and implementation pathway for large scale study and the analysis for identifying initial patterns in the acquired data. CONCLUSIONS The knowledge acquired though this research will lead to harmonized procedures and data collection for Living Labs that support transitions in care. In addition, this research contributes to the increase in capacity to perform Big Data analytics while accounting for each local context and across Living Labs.


Author(s):  
Seppo Leminen ◽  
Mika Westerlund

Living labs provide a new, under researched form of open innovation. Although open innovation is increasingly popular in service development, extant literature lacks knowledge of different open service innovation strategies, which companies can employ. This chapter focuses on strategies that firms can take in co-creating service innovations through living labs. The authors found nine open service innovation strategies based on an analysis of 26 living labs in four countries. Understanding of strategies and their links with incremental or radical innovation outcomes aid managers to set up an efficient innovation management. Knowledge of various strategies helps companies to succeed in service development and innovation novelty assessment based on the characteristics of the living lab.


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