Participatory action research generates knowledge for Sustainable Development Goals

Authors: SNAPP, SLEG - Michigan State University; BEZNER-KERR, RACHEL - Cornell University; Bybee-Finley, Kristine; CHIKOWO, REGIS - Michigan State University; DAKISHONI, LAIFOLO - Ekwendeni Hospital; GRABOWSKI, PHILLIP - Taylor University; LUPAFYA, ESTHER - Ekwendeni Hospital; MHANGO, WEZI - Lilongwe University Of Agriculture And Natural Resources; MORRONE, VICKI - Michigan State University; SHUMBA, LIZZIE - Ekwendeni Hospital; KANYAMA-PHIRI, GEORGE - Lilongwe University Of Agriculture And Natural Resources

Submitted to: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/17/2022
Publication Date: 6/13/2023
Citation: Snapp, S., Bezner-Kerr, R., Bybee-Finley, K.A., Chikowo, R., Dakishoni, L., Grabowski, P., Lupafya, E., Mhango, W., Morrone, V., Shumba, L., Kanyama-Phiri, G. 2023. Participatory action research generates knowledge for Sustainable Development Goals. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2591.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2591

Interpretive Summary: The approach of traditional hypothesis-testing experimentation in agricultural science has enabled remarkable gains in crop yields, but at a high cost including pollution, fossil-fuel dependence, biodiversity declines, and food system vulnerabilities. An alternative scientific process that involves participation and action learning is client-oriented, draws on local knowledge and can provide unique insights. Another approach, Participatory Action Research (PAR), can generate new knowledge, thus solutions to the sustainability problem facing agriculture. Two decades of PAR with Malawi rural communities are explored here, through iterative co-learning cycles. Novel findings include novel plant types and organic materials that support slow processes to enhance soil function, while meeting farmer requirements. Farmers were interested in expanding diversity on their fields by introducing long-lived growth habit crops, shrubs and vines, not trees. This addressed soil health while ensuring food security through multiple harvests of nutritious seeds and forage. This information will be of interest to scientists and policy makers.

Technical Abstract: Conventional, reductionist agricultural science has enabled remarkable gains in crop yields, but at a high cost including pollution, fossil-fuel dependence, biodiversity declines, and food system vulnerabilities. An alternative scientific process that involves participation and action learning is client-oriented, draws on local knowledge and can provide unique insights. The literature has focused, until now, on participatory approaches that enhance adaptation, overlooking participatory action research (PAR) generation of new knowledge and predictive capacity. Two decades of PAR with Malawi rural communities are explored here, through iterative co-learning cycles. Novel findings include functional plant types and organic materials that support slow processes to enhance soil function, while meeting farmer requirements. Farmers were interested in expanding functional diversity on their fields by introducing long-lived growth habit crops, shrubs and vines, not trees. This addressed soil health while ensuring food security through multiple harvests of nutritious seeds and forage.