Participatory Approach

Participatory research, or on-farm research, has emerged from the view of farming as a human activity system. Here the researcher joins together with the farmer, the advisor, and other concerned parties and each participant contributes his or her experience and knowledge both in formulating research questions and in performing the research. Participatory research also provides an excellent method for recognizing key issues related to future organic farming research.

Qualitative aspects are a focal point in participatory research, where there is a need for interdisciplinary exhange. The natural sciences therefore learn qualitative research from a systems perspective. Ethical aspects dealing with human values and morals are also strongly examined.

For related readings, see Literature below.

• Baars, T. and A. de vries (1999): Facilitating Empirical Learning in Agriculture Scientific Knowledge and Practical Choices: Forging a Link Between the Way of the Researcher/Extensionist and the Way of the Farmer. In: Zanoli, R. and R. Krell (Editors): First Sren Workshop on Research Methodologies in Organic Farming. Frick, Switzerland, 30 September - 3 October 1998. REU Technical Series 58. Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO, Rome
• Lund, V. (1999): Research in Organic Farming in the Nordic Countries with Specific Focus on Methodological Problems. In: Zanoli, R. and R. Krell (Editors): First Sren Workshop on Research Methodologies in Organic Farming. Frick, Switzerland, 30 September - 3 October 1998. REU Technical Series 58. Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO, Rome
• Zanoli, R. and R. Krell (Editors) (1999): First Sren Workshop on Research Methodologies in Organic Farming. Frick, Switzerland, 30 September - 3 October 1998. REU Technical Series 58. Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO, Rome