Learning ecology of IPM/FFS: the impacts of sustainability and health of agroecosystem

Farmer field school (FFS)/integrated pest management (IPM) functions as a facilitative mesosystem in Agricultural Innovation Ecosystems, spanning across problems and sectors. It addresses the interface between farmers and the environment, opening new trajectories for sustainable transition and promoting healthy agroecosystems. This paper applies the bioecological model to feed the community capital framework with field evidence of the impacts of two IPM/FFS projects from Iran using participatory approach. The findings demonstrate that farmer field schools (FFSs), through the proximal process, foster reciprocal interactions among farmers, enhancing human capital by unlocking their learning potential through the acquisition of new skills and abilities. Additionally, FFSs encourage the sharing of knowledge and skills among participants, contributing to their overall growth and development. Findings also reveal that the timeline of FFS for the growing season makes networking possible with trainers, researchers, decision-makers, and consumers. Drawing on these results, the bioecological model in a participatory manner can be applied to mapping out the pathway of FFSs’ impacts at various levels toward a healthier and sustainable agroecosystem. By using these insights and results, decision-makers can connect and guide programs for developing micro-agricultural knowledge and innovation systems to foster a sustainability transition in agriculture more realistic.