Co-producing knowledge: A demand-led, prosperity-focused, research agenda with forest and farm producer organisations

Gaps in Forest and Farm Producer Organisations' (FFPOs) knowledge, which are being widened by local and global uncertainties, undermine FFPOs' pursuit of broad conceptions of prosperity. As current methods of knowledge generation face several challenges, we use a knowledge demand survey from 41 FFPOs in six countries to show how co-productive methodologies can facilitate FFPOs delivery of prosperity. Our analysis of the knowledge demand survey shows how FFPOs' diversity of aims, knowledge needs, and capacities at different tiers of organisation, are well suited to co-productive methodologies. We conclude with eight-steps for co producing knowledge with FFPOs: (1) collaborative exchange to identify areas of interest; (2) co-commitment to a topic; (3) researcher-led literature search for context; (4) FFPO-documented case studies; (5) co-learning event to exchange and integrate findings; (6) production of initial knowledge product; (7) testing of initial knowledge product; and (8) final co-learning event to refine knowledge product prior to dissemination.

Automated summary

Gaps in knowledge within Forest and Farm Producer Organisations (FFPOs) hinder their pursuit of broad conceptions of prosperity, but co-productive methodologies can help bridge these gaps. An analysis of a knowledge demand survey from 41 FFPOs in six countries shows that their diversity of aims, knowledge needs, and capacities are well-suited to co-productive methodologies. The study concludes with eight steps for co-producing knowledge with FFPOs.