Lessons for co-innovation in agricultural innovation systems: a multiple case study analysis and a conceptual model

This paper highlights important lessons for co-innovation drawn from three ex-post case studies of innovations developed and implemented within the New Zealand Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS). The processes and contextual factors that fostered and/or constrained co-innovation in each case study were identified from semi-structured interviews conducted with key stakeholders in each AIS. Common themes from the three cases are examined in relation to structural-functional analysis and AIS literature. The resulting findings are presented as common themes between each case of co-innovation in practice; there needs to be network-level legitimacy, an understanding of priorities between actors, and adequate resources, to ensure proposed outcomes are likely to be attained. Lessons are presented that it is argued can inform future projects involving co-innovation approaches. By incorporating measures to recognize each of these lessons in future co-innovation projects, the process is more likely to have desirable outcomes.