Leaving the ivory tower through scientific innovation co-operative research – a social experiment in research on alternative agro-food networks

Abstract

The paper presents a participatory pattern of conducting research for social science. A few projects based on the idea of ‘co-operative research’ have been funded within the 7th EU Framework Programme. Among them was the project “Facilitating Alternative Agro-Food Networks – Stakeholder Perspective on Research Needs” (FAAN). One of its goals was to test the potential of the co-operative approach in social research practice. This paper aims to present and discuss the experiences from the project to reflect upon the usefulness of cooperative research as a scientific innovation and a new research paradigm, as well as to propose its reframing based on the results of the project. The article ends with practical recommendations concerning management or research projects in a co-operative manner, stressing the need of competencies for team leaders in micromanagement of heterogeneous research teams.