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Value-Ag: An integrated model for rapid ex-ante impact evaluation of agricultural innovations in smallholder systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2020

Marta Monjardino Open the ORCID record for Marta Monjardino [Opens in a new window] ,
Geoff Kuehne  and
Jay Cummins
Marta Monjardino*
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Waite Road, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
Geoff Kuehne
Affiliation:
Meaningful Social Research, PO Box 278, Balhannah, SA 5242, Australia Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Jay Cummins
Affiliation:
Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: marta.monjardino@csiro.au
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Abstract

Evaluation of agricultural Research, Development, Extension and Management requires knowledge of farming systems economics and risk as well as broader adoption drivers. But until now, these factors have not been effectively combined when determining the success of agricultural research projects. To fill this gap, we developed Value-Ag, an integrated modelling platform using whole-farm economic analysis and prediction of the scaling potential in the context of production risk and household dynamics to provide an ex-ante estimate of the benefits of adopting an innovation. In this paper, we use a hypothetical case study to illustrate Value-Ag’s potential to evaluate agricultural innovations in a rigorous, systematic and participatory manner across a range of scenarios, thereby stimulating thinking and learning opportunities with the relevant stakeholders, and increasing the scrutiny of projects so that they deliver greater value for money while fostering a more results-focused culture in developing countries.

Keywords

Whole-farm economicsRisk analysisAdoption of innovations
Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 56 , Issue 4 , August 2020 , pp. 633 - 649
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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