4-7 May 2009 • Kathmandu, Nepal
An international symposium on agricultural innovation systems in Asia and the Pacific, focusing particularly on southern and eastern Asia, was held on 4–7 May 2009 in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was jointly organised by CIAT (International Centre for Tropical Agriculture)–Asia, ICIMOD (International Centre for integrated Mountain Development) and Prolinnova (Promoting Local Innovation in ecologically oriented agriculture and natural resource management) in collaboration with the Prolinnova-Nepal partners LI-BIRD (Local Initiatives for Biodiversity Research and Development) and Practical Action–Nepal. It was funded by these organisations and Research Into Use (RIU)/UK Department for International Development.
The Innovation Asia–Pacific Symposium brought together researchers and practitioners to share their latest experiences and insights in enhancing innovation processes in smallholder agriculture and natural resource management (NRM), and to draw lessons for policy, research, development and practice. The Symposium included plenary keynotes, thematic mini-workshops and an interactive information market. It opened with a Nepalese fair on local innovation to celebrate the creativity of women and men farmers, farmer organisations and other local entrepreneurs and institutions.
Researchers and practitioners were invited to submit abstracts for Symposium papers relating to one or more of the following themes:
- Concepts and methods in innovation systems approaches
- Building and maintaining partnerships in innovation
- Strengthening adaptive capacities through local innovation processes
- Private-sector engagement for market-oriented innovation
- Building capacity and mainstreaming innovation systems approaches
- Policy dialogue and institutional change to support pro-poor innovation
The papers drew on diverse fields and disciplines of the social, agricultural and natural resource sciences, and presented good practice in studying and enhancing innovation processes. Although the main focus of the Symposium was on innovation in southern and eastern Asia, experiences from other parts of the world relevant for these areas was also welcome.
Abstracts should be no longer than 600 words and contain a short description of the conceptual or methodological development, partnership, innovation experience or supportive processes and mechanisms; this should include an explanation of the type of innovation involved (technological, social, institutional, etc); the current stage in the innovation process; the actual or potential outcomes and impacts of the work; the gender issues involved; and conclusions and any recommendations. The abstract should also include the theme (referring to one of the above), title of paper, name/institutional affiliation and address of author(s) and e-mail address of the proposed presenter, and key words including country and region.
Deadline for submission of abstracts for papers and/or proposals for “marketplace” exhibits has been extended to Sunday, 18 January 2009 (originally set 20 December 2008). Abstracts should be submitted to the Secretariat of the Innovation Asia Pacific Symposium.
