A review of global adoption practices and outcomes, and recommendations for implementation within the Australian Red Meat Industry
Effective programs for behavioral and practice change require producer-led design, facilitation of peer-to-peer learning, a deep understanding of the context of the target audience and a strong advisory sector to deliver programs.
| Project start date: | 26 May 2021 |
| Project end date: | 29 June 2022 |
| Publication date: | 23 August 2022 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
This project sought to identify a range of approaches used to engage producers, the impact of engagement and the critical factors in program design and delivery that either enable or hinder adoption. The project conducted a global review of innovative approaches to support adoption and practice change targeting red meat producers, advisors, service providers and Research and Development Corporations (e.g. MLA). The key project output was to provide recommendations for strengthening producer engagement adoption programs and to enable practice change on-farm by proposing a set of activities that apply innovative project design concepts for MLA to pilot.
Objectives
The main objectives that were achieved in this project were to:
- Establish a Stakeholder Reference Group with key MLA and external stakeholders, to scope the priority review areas, discuss identified concepts, and finalise three for further development.
- Identify novel adoption/extension/practice change activities that can be adapted to address Australian red meat industry issues and enhance uptake of innovation and best practice.
- Develop a set of activities that could be implemented including monitoring and evaluation plans based on three design concepts from the global review.
Key findings
The global review of adoption approaches revealed that designing effective programs for behavioral and practice change relies on:
- A comprehensive stakeholder analysis and engagement to get the ‘right people in the room’.
- Skilled facilitators to support peer learning, leadership and group processes.
- Building and maintaining social networks across supply chains and professions for knowledge generation and exchange.
- Having a flexible approach to the adoption program so that it can adapt to changing conditions and lesson learned.
- Appropriate resourcing (financial, people and time).
Benefits to industry
Benefits of this project to industry rely on the integration and implementation of findings into the producer adoption program. Benefits from doing so are expected to include:
- Increased engagement of producers and increased adoption, thereby creating more value from the investment to support change.
- Greater engagement of advisory networks in MLA adoption programs and increased capability of existing and new advisors. This includes expanding the engagement and role of value chain actors in extension programs.
- An increase in demand for new and existing products targeted to meet producer and industry needs, which will increase the uptake of outputs from existing R&D projects and focus the development of outputs from new or ongoing R&D investments.
MLA action
MLA is using outputs from this project to better inform and target existing adoption products in order to increase engagement and impact from the current program of work. Outputs will be further used in the development and implementation of the four additional project concepts proposed by the project. This will address specific adoption challenges such as engaging producers across the extensive southern rangelands, driving adoption of pain relief in animal husbandry practices, applying a 'Living Labs' approach to the R&D consultation process and supporting farmer driver action groups.
Future research
This project has identified three topic areas for further research that would provide MLA with the opportunity to diversify and enhance their adoption products and services. Further research activity is recommended to learn how to better engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander producers and Indigenous Australian knowledge systems, increase practical knowledge about how to use hybrid models more effectively when delivering adoption programs and consider longitudinal monitoring and evaluation approaches for building quality evidence of the outcomes and impacts from adoption program design.
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For more information Contact Project Manager: Alana Boulton |
