Soil knowledge management: Needs and ways of knowing for a more resilient rural landscape

Abstract

As a boundary organisation involved in a research programme we offer a space that allows for non-linear discussion of research findings and the potential for farmer experimentation/expressionism of acquired soil knowledge and its application. The ability to transform scientific knowledge to specific contexts is often highly dependent on willingness of farmers to co-operate, to take an idea on and place it into action. As a boundary organisation are we able to mediate between accepted soil knowledge and local knowledge systems to improve the level of practice change for a more resilient farming system? Also are we meeting farmers' soil knowledge needs and preferences for knowledge interaction especially in terms of maintaining soil fertility which is important to the resilience of a farming system? We analysed 8 field days (about on-farm research) and 1 forum with a total of 138 participants (57% farmers, 11% agribusiness, 12% researchers, 17% NRM and 2% other) to examine if we are creating the "space" for such discussion of soil knowledge needs and ways of knowing.