The Joint Learning in Innovation Systems in African Agriculture (JOLISAA) program, shares recent experiences on innovation processes involving multiple stakeholders and types of knowledge. Innovation Systems (IS) perspective inspires the framework of the JOLISAA research. IS stresses that the flow of technology and information among stakeholders is key to innovative processes. The project uses several avenues (inclusion/exclusion criteria, storyline, common underlying concepts, and iterative processes) to identify relevant innovations for deeper assessment and joint learning. JOLISSA lists selected innovations in three national inventories (Benin, Kenya, and South Africa). Jointly, practitioners and researchers assess 13 cases from the existing national inventories. The key steps in this collaborative case assessments are: i) planning meetings, ii) focus group discussions, iii) multi-stakeholders feedback, and iv) literature review.

The Innovation Network for Food Security and Poverty Reduction(SATNETasia), funded by the European Union, strengthen the south-south dialogue and promotes sustainable agricultural technologies. “SATNETasia is still looking for promising innovations, do not hesitate to contact” says Simone Kriesemer at the oral session titled "knowledge, learning and extension", Tropentag 2012. In this research program, scientists develop a framework to identify agricultural innovations that are sustainable, productivity enhancing, and suitable to the poorest. The research program evaluates technologies based on an analytical hierarchy process. Multiple criteria categorized into environment, economy, society, and technology composes this decision making tool. For assessment of relevant technologies, one indicator, the composite sustainability development index, is calculated out of the evaluated criteria. The index enables selection of best innovation according to the overall objective (i.e. a sustainable technology). Relevant technology are to be promoted by means of fact sheets and creation of a data base.

Prof. Sir Gordon Conway Gordon Conway is Professor of International Development in the Centre for Environmental Policy of the Imperial College of London and holds five honorary degrees and fellowships. Trained in agricultural ecology, he attended the universities of Bangor, Cambridge, West Indies (Trinidad) and California (Davis). In the 1960’s he was a pioneer of sustainable agriculture, developing integrated pest management programs for the State of Sabah in Malaysia. He joined Imperial College in 1970 setting up the Centre for Environmental Technology in 1976.

A contribution to the Tropentag 2010 received the best article prize, awarded by the editorial board of the Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension . Drawing conclusions from case studies in local seed managemnet systems in Bangladesh, the authors critically examined two major styles of participatory video production. The prize recognised the contribution of the authors in the advancement of innovation in rural communication and extension, by providing a solid basis for the effective use of video in innovation and extension processes. Principal author and Student Reporter Team member Ataharul Chowdhury, from Bangladesh, said to the Tropentag blog: "I am looking forward to getting ways and opportunities to further this research along cultural, ethical, and political dimensions that have enormous influence to shape participatory and second generation media”. The article can be openly accessed: Chowdhury, Ataharul Huq , Hambly Odame, Helen and Hauser, Michael (2010) 'With or Without a Script? Comparing Two Styles of Participatory Video on Enhancing Local Seed Innovation System in Bangladesh', The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 16: 4, 355 — 371.

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