Addressing barriers of culture, mindset and institutions through effective co-creation forums and networking, in North-east Scotland, UK

Culture and mindset can be barriers to transitions to agro-ecological farming systems. Farmers, institutions, authorities, businesses and other actors in value chains often rely on familiarity with existing approaches and experience-based outputs. Resistance to change, unproven approaches, or inertia in changing position, inhibits uptake of new ideas and practices.

Findings from the H2020 UNISECO project show the benefits of partnerships of public, private, research and civil society sectors in sharing knowledge and addressing barriers to agro-ecological transition of culture and mindset. An example of an effective forum that facilitates effective sharing of knowledge is the North-East Scotland Agriculture Advisory Group (NESAAG), UK. 

A long-term outcome of the operation of such forums can be the acceptance of their benefits as actors in their own right in which participants co-construct approaches that are recognised as taking account of the interests of all sectors.