Knowledge Networks in Organic Fruit Production across Europe: A Survey Study

Limited data regarding the resources and methods used by organic fruit growers to learn
about production practices are available, even though this information is crucial to improving the
efficacy of knowledge transfer. Therefore, a survey to gain information from knowledge networks
dealing with organic fruit production about their structural organisation, tasks and methods of
communication was carried out in twenty-one countries from Europe and the Mediterranean basin. A
total of 56 networks representing about 42,500 professionals were identified as a result of the survey.
The vast majority of them were only active at the regional or national level and were composed of
farmers, advisors and researchers. About 3/4 of the networks were developing improved strategies
for agronomic practices and about half of them were also involved in different knowledge-transfer
activities between their members. Personal contact was the most used method to exchange and
disseminate information within the networks as well as to elaborate improved strategies. The findings
were analysed in view of the methods and practices commonly used to share both explicit (scientific)
and implicit (practical) knowledge among practitioners. It was concluded that knowledge networks
play an important role in the development of more resilient organic cropping systems, frequently
making organic fruit growers the drivers of innovation. Networking for knowledge exchange
was considered a process that encourages the active involvement of farmers in experimentation
and innovation applying a method of knowledge sharing that is rooted in the very foundation of
organic philosophy. Some recommendations and future research were suggested to further foster the
development and functioning of networks for knowledge exchange.