This project will look at processes of ‘innovation’ in agroecology and food sovereignty – tackling questions such as what does it look like, is it different from other innovative approaches, and how do agroecological innovations spread around? The goal is to support farmers, communities and social movements in developing approaches to innovation that can help to develop agroecology as an alternative paradigm to corporate-industrial agriculture.

The objectives of the projects are first to develop a new conceptual framework of innovation in agroecology that reflects community economies theory. Secondly to better understand how grassroots agroecological innovations can be scaled up and how they can be boosted by top-down and bottom-up agricultural knowledge systems, including policy and research processes. Finally, it aims to use a networked transmedia knowledge mobilization strategy to ensure the outcomes of this research have a significant impact on the policy, practice and science of innovation.