Training in interdisciplinary team research for agricultural development: the experience of ICRA

With the increasing attention given to the social and ecological impacts of agricultural change, as well as simple productivity measures, the need for interdisciplinary approaches in agricultural research is likely to continue growing. However, the experience of the last few decades of interdisciplinary approaches such as farming-systems research is not very promising: disciplinary conflict is common, productive interaction seems difficult to achieve and practical results have been disappointing. It is argued here that interdisciplinary research requires: a) an appreciation of systems concepts; b) a common understanding of goals and objectives and skills in planning methods to reach these; and c) effective communication and management procedures to enable teams to function efficiently. The experience and impact of ICRA — now in its 17th year — is discussed to illustrate how these elements have been developed into a professional learning programme to develop these interdisciplinary skills.