Report: Farmers and scientists - A case study in facilitating communication

Global agriculture faces many challenges, with novel technologies presenting a range of options to help address them. However, appropriate communication between researchers and producers is vital for the development, acceptance, and adoption of new innovations or techniques. The traditional deficit model of one-way information flow from the laboratory to the field is being replaced by a contextual model involving two-way dialogue. Here, I present qualitative evidence of the impact of a transition between these models. In Europe, there is a disconnect between researchers and producers; therefore, inspired by communication models in developing countries, suggestions are offered for facilitating interactions between scientists and farmers in more developed areas of the world.