Social Learning Processes in Swiss Soil Protection? The 'From Farmer - To Farmer' Project

Schneider, Flurina; Fry, Patrizia; Ledermann, Thomas; Rist, Stephan (2009). Social Learning Processes in Swiss Soil Protection? The 'From Farmer - To Farmer' Project. Human ecology, 37(4), pp. 475-489. New-York, NY: Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 10.1007/s10745-009-9262-1

Preview

Text art%3A10.1007%2Fs10745-009-9262-1.pdf - Published Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (269kB) | Preview

Social learning approaches have become a prominent focus in studies related to sustainable agriculture. In order to better understand the potential of social learning for more sustainable development, the present study assessed the processes, effects and facilitating elements of interaction related to social learning in the context of Swiss soil protection and the innovative ‘From Farmer - To Farmer’ project. The study reveals that social learning contributes to fundamental transformations of patterns of interactions. However, the study also demonstrates that a learning-oriented understanding of sustainable development implies including analysis of the institutional environments in which the organizations of the individual representatives of face-to-face-based social learning processes are operating. This has shown to be a decisive element when face-to-face-based learning processes of the organisations’ representatives are translated into organisational learning. Moreover, the study revealed that this was achieved not directly through formalisation of new lines of institutionalised cooperation but by establishing links in a ‘boundary space’ trying out new forms of collaboration, aiming at social learning and co-production of knowledge. It is argued that further research on social learning processes should give greater emphasis to this intermediary level of ‘boundary spaces’.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

413 since deposited on 04 Oct 2013
32 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item