Digital decision-support tools for designing agroecological farms? Reflections inspired by the multi-actor development of an online software for vegetable growers in France
Abstract
Our objective was to explore the characteristics of a digital decision-support tool (DDST) that could match the specific expectations of agroecology networks. We relied on a case-study in France where we have been implementing a participatory approach to develop an online software (La Pépinière-Mesclun) since 2020 to support vegetable growers to (re)design and assess their cropping plan while integrating agroecological practices relying on diversification. The analysis of qualitative content gathered throughout the project showed that to be judged salient, relevant and legitimate by agroecology actors, the DDST had to match specific expectations characterized as 73 design choices, grouped into 14 design principles, underlied by 4 main design values: (i) respecting the diversity and complexity of farming systems; (ii) being accessible to a diversity of farming profiles; (iii) valuing peoples' expertise and fostering decisional autonomy; (iv) being designed and managed as a digital common. Fostering digital commons for agroecology raises many theoretical and practical challenges, among other related to relevant modalities collective of governance and contribution and to fair business models. This work corroborates and enriches the very few studies based on concrete field work investigating the
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