The case for retaining, redefining and reinvigorating extension in agricultural innovation systems

Agricultural extension has a proud international history in contributing to the success of agriculture, farmer incomes, food security, and more recently environmental sustainability. Extension has been changing a great deal in recent years, however, to the point that some have doubted its continuing relevance. Public sector provision has declined greatly, and private sector roles have increased and diversified. In developed countries, there has been discomfort with the term ‘extension’ being too closely associated with long-discredited transfer-of-technology approaches, but attempts to find substitute terms such as ‘innovation’ and ‘knowledge-brokering’ are yet to gain a clear identity. We argue there is a need to reinvigorate, redefine, and ultimately reinvent the conceptualisation and practice of agricultural extension, to meet changing contexts and needs. Opportunities lie in new issues and goals, involving broader sets of people, and reinvigoration of education, while continuing to build the participatory processes that lie at the heart of extension