Insights and learnings from the use of design thinking for digital agricultural innovation design

Karen McGrath; Jim Kinsella; Aine Regan; Tomas Russell

doi:10.37433/aad.v7i2.621

Authors

Karen McGrath University College Dublin, Ireland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3827-7892
Jim Kinsella University College Dublin, Ireland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6556-3555
Aine Regan Teagasc, Ireland
Tomas Russell University College Dublin, Ireland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0799-360X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v7i2.621

Keywords:

stakeholder engagement, user-centred, digital technology, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Abstract

This research contributes to the growing discourse on participatory approaches for digital agricultural innovation design. Specifically, it details practical insights and learnings from applying the first three phases of a design thinking approach to the design of a digital animal health innovation. Design thinking proved effective as it facilitated direct engagement with end users (through focus groups and a co-design workshop) and leveraged specific design thinking techniques (user personas and ‘How might we…?’ questions). This facilitated the identification of key end-user needs and the co-creation of tailored solutions, successfully informing the tools design. Several context specific insights and learnings are garnered from this study for future researchers aiming to replicate these approaches in an agricultural context. These include due consideration for the busy farming calendar to ensure effective stakeholder participation and engagement with the process; attention to environmental factors when engaging stakeholders on farm; and the recommended use of boundary objects in participatory research to facilitate mutual understanding and rich discussion. This research suggests that considering these factors is imperative for successful participatory design research in agricultural contexts.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Barrett, H., & Rose, D. C. (2020). Perceptions of the fourth agricultural revolution: What’s in, what’s out, and what consequences are anticipated? Sociologia Ruralis, 62(4), 162-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/soru.12324

Berthet, E. T., Hickey, G. M., & Klerkx, L. (2018). Opening design and innovation processes in agriculture: Insights from design and management sciences and future directions. Agricultural Systems, 165, 111–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AGSY.2018.06.004

Birner, R., Daum, T., & Pray, C. (2021). Who drives the digital revolution in agriculture? A review of supply-side trends, players and challenges. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 43, 1260-1285. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13145

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Caccamo, M., Pittino, D., & Tell, F. (2023). Boundary objects, knowledge integration, and innovation management: A systematic review of the literature. Technovation, 122, 102645 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2022.102645

Carolan, M. (2020). Acting like an algorithm: digital farming platforms and the trajectories they (need not) lock-in. Agriculture and Human Values, 37, 1041-1053. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-020-10032-w

Deming, J., Kinsella, J., O’Brien, B., & Shaloo, L. (2019). An examination of the effects of labor efficiency on the profitability of grass-based, seasonal-calving dairy farms in Journal of Dairy Science, 102(9), 8431 – 8440. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15299

de Oca Munguia, O. M., & Llewellyn, R. (2020). The adopters versus the technology: Which matters more when predicting or explaining adoption? Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 42, 80-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13007

Eastwood, C. R., Edwards, J. P., & Turner J. A. (2021). Review: Anticipating alternative trajectories for responsible agriculture 4.0 innovation in livestock systems. Animal 15(Supplement 1), Article 100296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2021.100296

Eastwood, C. R., Jago, J. G., Edwards, J. P., & Burke, J. K. (2016). Getting the most out of advanced farm management technologies: Roles of technology suppliers and dairy industry organisations in supporting precision dairy farmers. Animal Production Science, 56, 1752-1760. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN141015

Eastwood, C., Turner, F. J., & Romera, A. J. (2022). Farmer-centred design: An affordances based framework for identifying processes that facilitate farmers as co-designers in addressing complex agricultural challenges. Agricultural Systems, 195, Article 103314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103314

Gichamba, A., Waiganjo, P., & Orwa, D. (2015). mAgriculture among small holder farmers in Kenya: Challenges and lessons. 12th IEEE AFRICON International Conference. https://doi.org/10.1109/AFRCON.2015.7331924

Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. (2010). An introduction to design thinking: Process guide. https://web.stanford.edu/~mshanks/MichaelShanks/files/509554.pdf

Hearne, D., Wolferts, D., & Dilleen, G. (2023). Designing with farmers: A multi-actor framework to include human centred design in the digitization of farming services and collaboration. 26th European Seminar on Extension & Education - Book of Abstracts, 164 – 167. Toulouse: UMR, AGIR, INRAE, INP - University of Toulouse.

Hennessy, T., & Heanue, K. (2012). Quantifying the effect of discussion group membership on technology adoption and farm profit on dairy farms. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 18(1), 41-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2012.638784

Interaction Design Foundation. (2023, March 17). What is Participatory Design? Interaction Design Foundation - IxDF. https://www.interactiondesign.org/literature/topics/participatory-design

Kenny, U., Regan, Á., Hearne, D., & O'Meara, C. (2021). Empathising, defining and ideating with the farming community to develop a geotagged photo app for smart devices: A design thinking approach. Agricultural Systems, 194, 103248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103248

Klerkx, L., van Bommel, S., Bos, B., Holster, H., Zwartkruis, J. V., & Aarts, N. (2012). Design process outputs as boundary objects in agricultural innovation projects: Functions and limitations. Agricultural Systems, 113, 39–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2012.07.006

Klerkx, L., & Rose, D. (2020). Dealing with the game-changing technologies of agriculture 4.0: How do we manage diversity and responsibility in food system transition pathways? Global Food Security, 24, 100347 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.GFS.2019.100347

Lioutas, E. D., & Charatsari, C. (2020). Smart farming and short food supply chains: Are they compatible? Land Use Policy, 94, 104541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104541

Long, T. B., Blok, V., & Coninx, I. (2016). Barriers to the adoption and diffusion of technological innovations for climate-smart agriculture in Europe: Evidence from the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Italy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 9-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.06.044

Lowenberg-DeBoer, J. 2022. Economics of adoption for digital automated technologies in agriculture. Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2022. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper 22-10. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc2624en

McGrath, K., Brown, C., Regan, Á., & Russell, T. (2023). Investigating narratives and trends in digital agriculture: A scoping study of social and behavioural science studies. Agricultural Systems, 207, 103616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103616

Pavie, X., & Carthy, D. (2014). Addressing the wicked problem of responsible innovation through design thinking. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2441935

Prost, L. (2021). Revitalizing agricultural sciences with design sciences. Agricultural Systems 193, 103225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103225

Regan, Á. (2019). ‘Smart farming’ in Ireland: A risk perception study with key governance actors. NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 90–91(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2019.02.003

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press.

Rose, D. C., & Chilvers, J. (2018). Agriculture 4.0: Broadening responsible innovation in an era of smart farming. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2, 87. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2018.00087

Rose, D.C., Parker, C., Fodery, J., Park, C., Sutherland, W.J., Dicks, L.V., 2018. Involving stakeholders in agricultural decision support systems: Improving user-centred design. International Journal of Agricultural Management 6, 80–89. https://doi.org/10.22004/AG.ECON.287292

Ryan, M. (2023). Labour and skills shortages in the agro-food sector. OECD Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Papers, 189. OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/ed758aab-en

Schillings, J., Bennett, R., & Rose, D. C. (2023). Managing end-user participation for the adoption of digital livestock technologies: Expectations, performance, relationships, and support. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 30(2), 277-295. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2023.2192697

Seminar, A. U., & Sarwoprasodjo, S. (2019). ICTs for small scale farmers in Indonesia: How to make it possible? IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 335(1), 012028. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/335/1/012028

Steinke, J., Ortiz-Crespo, B., van Etten, J., & Müller, A. (2022). Participatory design of digital innovation in agricultural research-for-development: Insights from practice. Agricultural Systems 195, 103313 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103313

Stilgoe, J., Owen, R., & Macnaghten, P. (2013). Developing a framework for responsible innovation. Research Policy, 42(9), 1568–1580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2013.05.008

van den Hoven, J. (2007). ICT and Value Sensitive Design. In: Goujon, P., Lavelle, S., Duquenoy, P., Kimppa, K., Laurent, V. (eds) The Information Society: Innovation, Legitimacy, Ethics and Democracy In honor of Professor Jacques Berleur s.j.. IFIP International Federation for Information Processing, vol 233. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72381-5_8

Wiseman, L., Sanderson, J., Zhang, A., & Jakku, E. (2019). Farmers and their data: An examination of farmers’ reluctance to share their data through the lens of the laws impacting smart farming. NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 90–91(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2019.04.007