FAIRshare, a Horizon 2020 project, applied a living lab approach with farm advisors to boost the use of digital tools in agricultural advisory services.
FAIRshare built an open inventory of digital advisory tools by engaging directly with advisors and then created a network of advisors across 15 countries to pilot new tools in their own contexts. Advisors acted as co-creators, they co-designed an interactive platform and contributed ‘user cases’ to show their testing of how digital apps, decision support systems, etc. were embedded in their day-to-day advisory work.
The AgILe lab led efforts the participatory design of communication and engagement strategies, so that advisors would not only adopt tools themselves but also inspire their peers and farmer clients. Co-creating content for 19 of animated videos was a central strategy in this regard, which were translated to 26 languages. By developing 42 on-the-ground user cases and emphasising peer learning, FAIRshare empowered the advisory community to narrow the digital divide in farming through co-created solutions.