A theoretical framework for tracking farmers’ innovations to support farming system design

Over the last few years, an increasing number of agricultural R&D actors have sought to discover and get know farmers’ practices that they consider as innovative, unconventional, or promising. We refer these approaches, all which aim support design farming systems, ‘farmer innovation tracking’. There is still a lack knowledge, however, about specificities approaches adopted track innovations how contribute processes. To explore questions, we studied 14 initiatives in France led by from different networks. analysed data collected using agronomy science concepts. Three outcomes emerge this work. (1) shed light on common features tracking. outline five stages structure approaches: formulating tracking project, unearthing innovations, learning them, analysing generating agronomic content. (2) characterize six contributions farmer processes: giving rise creative anomalies, shedding systemic mechanisms fuel processes other farms, uncovering research stimulating orphan fields innovation, circulating concepts, connecting farmer-designers with each other. (3) Finally, highlight three strategies: targeted proven practices, under development, exploratory practices. This article first propose theorization thus enriching foundations supporting system design. The purpose our paper not provide turnkey method, but mechanisms, points reference for who might wish develop contexts future. By revealing their processes, seeks institutionalization