Optimization and reflexivity in interdisciplinary agri-environmental scholarship

Authors: CHILES, ROBERT - Pennsylvania State University; DROHAN, PATRICK - Pennsylvania State University; CIBIN, RAJ - Pennsylvania State University; O'SULLIVAN, LILAN - Teagasc (AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY); DOODY, DONNACHA - Agri-Food And Biosciences Institute; SCHULTE, ROGIER - Wageningen University And Research Center; GRADY, CAITLIN - Pennsylvania State University; JIANG, FEI - Pennsylvania State University; PREISENDANZ, HEATHER - Pennsylvania State University; DINGKUHN, ELSA - Wageningen University And Research Center; Veith, Tameria - Tamie; ANDERSON, AINE - Agri-Food And Biosciences Institute

Submitted to: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2023
Publication Date: 2/8/2023
Citation: Chiles, R.M., Drohan, P.J., Cibin, R., O'Sullivan, L., Doody, D., Schulte, R., Grady, C., Jiang, F., Preisendanz, H.E., Dingkuhn, E.L., Veith, T.L., Anderson, A. 2023. Optimization and reflexivity in interdisciplinary agri-environmental scholarship. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 7:1083388. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1083388.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1083388

Interpretive Summary: Researchers working in multi-disciplinary teams are often challenged by understanding how team members are approaching research questions and in jointly determining how to work together effectively. Scientists from the USA and several countries in Europe used several methods of interaction, evaluation, and assessment to explore methods for addressing important water quality concerns in the Chesapeake Bay and Northern Ireland. By combining ideas and tools from scientists in several different disciplines, such as soil science, hydrology, social science, and ecology, we gained in-depth understanding of potential local and regional questions and concerns about water quality improvement efforts. Reflecting on and documenting group efforts and insights on projects such as this help multi-disciplinary teams build connections and create stronger system-level solutions.

Technical Abstract: The Chesapeake Bay and Upper Bann watersheds in the United States and Northern Ireland, respectively, exemplify how agricultural systems contribute to groundwater and surface water pollution, which leads in turn to water quality issues in downstream water bodies. Interdisciplinary research, public outreach, and stakeholder engagement approaches have received increased attention and consideration as pragmatic approaches for addressing these types of complex agri-environmental dilemmas. However, such interdisciplinary approaches are far from guaranteed to improve water quality, as political-economic constraints, power asymmetries, cultural differences, divergent incentives, research gaps, and personality differences complicate the interactions between these variables and their ultimate effects on water quality. We present a holistic approach to addressing these challenges in the Chesapeake Bay and Upper Bann watershed management efforts by integrating the methodological strategies of optimization and reflexivity. Our use of these approaches, widely recognized as respective successful practices in quantitative and qualitative research, is novel in that it focuses directly on the researchers as they discuss and evaluate various processes toward solving complex agri-environmental water quality dilemmas. More specifically, our quantitative optimization is explored via a Functional Land Management (FLM) approach to land and natural resources management, while our qualitative reflexivity is explored through the process of participant-observation. In so doing, we provide a roadmap for improving cooperation efficiency in addressing complex agri-environmental issues.