Sustainable Agriculture and Food: Four volume set (Earthscan Reference Collections)

A New Practice: Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture 311

situations. They must be able to manage complex agroecosystem systems as busi-
nesses in competitive markets. But, as ecosystems do not stop at farm boundaries,
local communities and wider consortia of interest groups and resource users also
need to engage in learning how to manage landscapes and resources. Societies have
to develop, and adjust to, trade-offs among potentially competing interests. We
still have a long way to go in that respect. On the whole, a wasteful way of life has
so far remained politically non-negotiable.

The Prevalent Paradigm for Thinking About Innovation

The current ways of thinking about the processes of innovation are embedded in a
particular epistemology, that is in ways or methods for knowing on the basis of
knowledge which hitherto has remained largely unchallenged.
The prevalent view of agricultural science is that it deals with ‘things’, which are
as they are, which can be objectively known through research, and about which sci-
ence can formulate generalizable ‘truths’. These objectively verifiable propositions
underpin the efforts made to influence agricultural performance. The goals of such
intervention are taken to be unambiguous and not of scientific interest. The focus is
on the ‘best technical means’ for achieving any stated goal. Box 16.6 presents typical
statements which are informed by this so-called realist–positivist epistemology.

Box 16.6 Illustrative realist–positivist statements

• Reality exists independently of the human observer.


• Through scientific research we can build objective, true knowledge (generaliza-
  tions) about that reality.


• Scientists discover and lay bare the naked truth, lift the veil hiding it, and reveal
  its secrets.


• The goal of science is to add to the store of human knowledge.


• Scientific research is the source of innovation.


• Technology is applied science.


• Development results from the transfer of the results of science to users.


• Problems can be solved by experts. In fact, we do not have to worry too much
  about the future. Science will find an answer.


• Social science is not really a science: it has not resulted in any true generaliza-
  tions and cannot be used to send a man to the moon.