Research
FIPS-Africa is one of a small number of organizations in Africa that can support the entire research into use continuum. Our research tends to focus on soil health, pest and disease management and control, and market system innovations.
FIPS can undertake original research, working with partners to validate promising technologies, work with partners to develop screenhouse trails organise and oversee farmer trails. The research is farmer-led, with VBAs identifying the challenges faced on the smallholder farmers they served. The VBAs also act as a community of practice feeding back farmer-led innovations.
For promising technologies, FIPS-Africa has pathways to scale through its VBA network in Kenya and its national and international partnerships.
In some cases, the FIPS-Africa research team leads formal research. A good example of this is the Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) research which is exploring the use of soil in the control and management of fall armyworm. This research can lead to better understanding of a cultural practice that can limit the pest damage. Given that it works with soil found on site – there is almost no potential to commercialize this control method. FIPS can build an economic and scientific case to justify the advocacy for approaches that work against commercial interests – especially when they are more nature-based solutions.
FIPS-Africa facilitates farmer research networks (FRNs) in two counties in Kenya, aligning with co-creation and knowledge-sharing principles under McKnight Foundation’s Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems (CRFS) program. FIPS has developed process guides focusing on prioritization, experiment interpretation, and envisioning agroecological villages. Well-facilitated FRNs improve understanding and sharing of trial results, potentially enabling sustainable adaptation and adoption beyond FRNs.
On farm trials
The Small Pack approach, which allows farmers to trail new varieties or technologies, is the last leg of the research into use continuum. The small packs (samples) enables smallholder farmers to try the varieties on small areas before choosing.
Understanding what is likely to work?
This involves 5-50 farmers testing the benefit of the innovation or technology, the resource required and the cultural fit.
Checking
The assumption is tested at with 100-200 smallholder farmers in a range of contexts.
Moving to scale
Small packs are distributed to thousands of smallholder farmers for trial before committing to purchase as the final leg of the research.