Innovative Extension Approaches In Technology Transfer

The National Seminar on Alternative Extension Approaches in Technology Transfer held at Mitraniketan KVK on 21- 22, February 2004 was one of the most successful scientific deliberations in the recent past. Most of the successful alternative extension approaches in technology transfer were presented and highlighted. There was a tremendous response from various R & D institutions to present their approaches for sharing at a common platform without any prejudice. The business of technology transfer is the secret of success to every R & D institutions, but this was a platform envisaged to share experiences. We take the opportunity to thank the entire authors for the contribution of their articles to this book.

This volume presents a state-of-the-art overview of the rapidly evolving field of agribusiness, highlighting the most current issues, concepts, trends and themes in research, practice and policy. With a particular emphasis on technology, product and process innovation, the authors cover a wide array of topics relating to such issues as research and development, technology transfer and patents and licensing, with particular respect to the roles of academic institutions, private organizations and public agencies in generating and disseminating knowledge. Featuring case studies of innovative initiatives across the industry, this book will appeal to researchers, business leaders, university administrators and policymakers concerned with the multi-faceted implications of this dynamic and controversial sector.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested that the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the National Research Council (NRC) convene a panel of experts to examine whether publicly funded agricultural research has influenced the structure of U.S. agriculture and, if so, how. The Committee to Review the Role of Publicly Funded Agricultural Research on the Structure of U.S. Agriculture was asked to assess the role of public-sector agricultural research on changes in the size and numbers of farms, with particular emphasis on the evolution of very-large-scale operations.

Knowledge generation and transfer mechanisms are being transformed in important and controversial ways. Investment in research and development has increased in response to recognition that scientific productivity is tightly connected to economic dynamism. Patent protection has been expanded in order to stimulate higher levels of private investment. Intellectual property rights held by public organizations and researchers are now increasingly transferred to private organizations to accelerate the diffusion and enhance the value of knowledge produced by public agencies and universities. Additionally, new institutions such as university offices of technology transfer, venture capital markets, and a variety of consortia in knowledge-intensive industries are being established throughout the United States and in other parts of the world. These changes have led to a repositioning of the state in systems of innovation and an increase in the proprietary character of technical information. The purpose of this book is to review and analyze i) contemporary transitions in agricultural knowledge generation and extension arrangements from an empirical perspective, and ii) emerging and contradictory perspectives as to how knowledge systems can be assessed effectively. The authors aim to provide the reader with a better understanding of the implications of new biotechnologies and new intellectual property rights regimes on public-private relations in science, the extent to which benefits from scientific knowledge are being appropriated by private sector actors, the diversity and possible outcomes of privatization initiatives in extension, and prospects for public goods production and ecological sustainability given contemporary trends. The book presents contrasting views on the degree of complementarity and substitution between private and public sector investments in research and extension. Recognizing that the labels `public' and `private' are incomplete and at times misleading descriptions of the structure and function of coordinating bodies in social systems, the analyses highlight ways in which public and private spaces and modes of functioning combine. In addition to illustrating a broad range of analytic methodologies useful for studying organizational questions in knowledge systems, the authors identify the implications of a range of past and potential institutional innovations.

Papers presented at the National Seminar on Alternative Extension Approaches in Technology Transfer, held at Trivandrum during 21-22 February 2004.

This 1999 book proposes an alternative approach to research and development, based on the needs of the farming community.

Compiles papers presented by extensionists, natural resource specialists, tech. transfer specialists, and others at a conf. that examined tech. transfer theories, methods, and case studies. Topics included: adult educ., extension, diffusion of innovations, social marketing, tech. transfer, etc. Descriptions of methods and case studies included combined digital media, engagement of users and commun. specialists in research, integrated forestry applications, Internet-based systems, science writing, training, video conf., Web-based ency., etc. Innovations transferred were best mgmt. practices for water quality, reforestation practices, land mgmt. system, portable timber bridges, reduced impact logging, silvicultural practices, urban forestry, etc. Illustrations.