Knowledge Sharing for Good Soil Stewardship

Knowledge Sharing for Good Soil Stewardship project is funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils (Soil CRC ). The project will identify knowledge-sharing strategies to increase landholder engagement in soil health improvement practices. An integral research activity for the project involves the assessment and use of digital engagement and online tools by participant grower groups collaborating on the project.

Background

Knowledge Sharing for Good Soil Stewardship project is applying knowledge sharing strategies to improve the uptake of new innovations and best practice for soil management in farming communities. Southern Cross University is leading this two-year project (2021-2023) which received major investment funding from the Soil CRC. 

Project partners include industry organisations, grower groups, and universities. 

CeRDI is a partner on the project and is conducting research to monitor and document the role and application of digital strategies used by the four grower groups across the duration of the KSP. Specifically:

The CeRDI team…will support the use of online analytics to assess the use and impact of digital and online tools identified by grower-groups, such as Apps, podcasts, and websites, and the Visualising Australasian Soils tool (Project proposal to Soil CRC, 2021, p. 5).
 

The digital engagement guide is a key output linked to this project. The guide has been informed by research and engagement activities drawn from interviews with participating grower groups and secondary data to document grower group digital engagement tools and activities.
 

Outcomes

The digital engagement research demonstrates that grower groups are using an extensive range of digital engagement tools. They have a breadth of knowledge, skills, and experience in using digital engagement tools for sharing information and knowledge across their networks, with members (including farmer-producers), their sponsors and funders and the broader agriculture community.

A key outcome from this research has been the development of a digital engagement guide. The guide presents a compilation of key steps, practical ideas and considerations for communication and knowledge sharing using digital engagement tools. The guide has been informed by the research findings and includes practical areas of focus in the planning and implementation of digital engagement in agriculture. Five key elements comprise the guide presenting concepts and ideas related to digital engagement, including understanding, planning, audience, delivery and monitoring.
 

Innovation

This research synthesises how the four grower groups in Australia are utilising digital engagement tools. The findings are unique, showcasing a deep understanding and commitment by grower groups to share information, and to communicate through their networks and members, using a wide range of digital engagement tools.
 

Approach

Three rounds of interviews were conducted across three timepoints with representatives from each of the four participating grower groups. Secondary data from process diaries compiled by staff at each grow groups about their undertaking digital and other engagement activities over the course of the project were collected and analysed.