Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Innovative design for agriculture in the move towards sustainability: scientific challenges

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Research in Engineering Design Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Agriculture is facing increasing innovation challenges to meet current societal expectations, yet very few design science studies are devoted to it. This paper highlights some of the particularities of the objects, reasoning and organization of design in agriculture that may open fruitful scientific dialogue between design scientists and agricultural scientists. We first provide an overview of the broad range of objects that are designed in agriculture and point out their specific characteristics with regard to design. We then identify some particular challenges of design activities in agriculture and review how they have been addressed up to now. Finally, we discuss how design challenges and characteristics in agriculture can contribute to current debate in the field of design science. We propose two main lines of enquiry and debate: enhancing the links between design reasoning and organization and further conceptualizing the status of use situations in design to deal with uncertainties and complexity in design processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altieri MA (1989) Agroecology: a new research and development paradigm for world agriculture. Agric Ecosyst Environ 27:37–46. doi:10.1016/0167-8809(89)90070-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altieri MA, Funes-Monzote FR, Petersen P (2011) Agroecologically efficient agricultural systems for smallholder farmers: contributions to food sovereignty. Agron Sustain Dev 31:1–13. doi:10.1007/s13593-011-0065-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ameri F, Summers JD, Mocko GM, Porter M (2008) Engineering design complexity: an investigation of methods and measures. Res Eng Des 19:161–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Béguin P, Cerf M, Prost L (2012) Co-design as an emerging distributed dialogical process between users and designers. In: Barbier M, Elzen B (ed) System innovations, knowledge regimes, and design practices towards transitions for sustainable agriculture, INRA editions, pp 154–170. http://www4.inra.fr/sad_eng/Publications2/Free-e-books/System-Innovations-for-Sustainable-Agriculture

  • Benton TG, Vickery JA, Wilson JD (2003) Farmland biodiversity: is habitat heterogeneity the key? Trends Ecol Evol 18(4):182–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergez JE, Colbach N, Crespo O, Garcia F, Jeuffroy MH, Justes E, Loyce C, Munier-Jolain N, Sadok W (2010) Designing crop management systems by simulation. Eur J Agron 32:3–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berthet ETA (2014) Concevoir l’écosystème, un nouveau défi pour l’agriculture (Designing the ecosystem: a new challenge for agriculture). Presse des Mines, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Berthet ETA, Bretagnolle V, Segrestin B (2012) Analyzing the design process of farming practices ensuring little bustard conservation: lessons for collective landscape management. J Sustain Agric 36:319–336. doi:10.1080/10440046.2011.627988

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berthet ETA, Barnaud C, Girard N, Labatut J, Martin G (2015) How to foster agroecological innovations? A comparison of participatory design methods. J Environ Plan Manag. doi:10.1080/09640568.2015.1009627

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjögvinsson E, Ehn P, Hillgren P-A (2012) Design things and design thinking: contemporary participatory design challenges. Des Issues 28:101–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bos AP, Groot Koerkamp PWG, Gosselink JMJ, Bokma S (2009) Reflexive interactive design and its application in a project on sustainable dairy husbandry systems. Outlook Agric 38:137–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brancourt-Hulmel M, Doussinault G, Lecomte C, Bérard P, Le Buanec B, Trottet M (2003) Genetic Improvement of agronomic traits of winter wheat cultivars released in France from 1946 to 1992. Crop Sci 43:37. doi:10.2135/cropsci2003.3700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brisson N, Gate P, Gouache D et al (2010) Why are wheat yields stagnating in Europe? A comprehensive data analysis for France. Field Crops Res 119:201–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown I (2013) Entre firme et usagers: des biens génératifs d’usages. Théorie des biens comme espaces de conception. ENMP, Paris

  • Cerf M, Meynard J-M (2006) Les outils de pilotage des cultures: diversité de leurs usages et enseignements pour leur conception. Nat Sci Soc 14:19–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cerf M, Jeuffroy M-H, Prost L, Meynard J-M (2012) Participatory design of agricultural decision support tools: taking account of the use situations. Agron Sustain Dev 32:899–910. doi:10.1007/s13593-012-0091-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chantre E, Cardona A (2014) Trajectories of French field crop farmers moving toward sustainable farming practices: change, learning, and links with the advisory services. Agroecol Sustain Food Syst 38:573–602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chantre E, Cerf M, Le Bail M (2015) Transitional pathways towards input reduction on French field crop farms. Int J Agric Sustain 13:69–86. doi:10.1080/14735903.2014.945316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coquil X, Beguin P, Dedieu B (2014) Transition to self-sufficient mixed crop-dairy farming systems. Renew Agric Food Syst 29:195–205. doi:10.1017/S1742170513000458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox PG (1996) Some issues in the design of agricultural decision support systems. Agric Syst 52:355–381. doi:10.1016/0308-521X(96)00063-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crossland R, Dapti JHS, McMahon CA (2003) An object-oriented modeling framework for representing uncertainty in early variant design. Res Eng Des 14:173–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debaeke P, Munier-Jolain N, Bertrand M, Guichard L, Nolot J-M, Faloya V, Saulas P (2009) Iterative design and evaluation of rule-based cropping systems: methodology and case studies-a review. Agron Sustain Dev 29(1):73–86. doi:10.1051/agro:2008050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doré T, Makowski D, Malézieux E, Munier-Jolain N, Tchamitchian M, Tittonell P (2011) Facing up to the paradigm of ecological intensification in agronomy: revisiting methods, concepts and knowledge. Eur J Agron 34:197–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Étienne M (ed) (2014) Companion modelling. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Gauffreteau A, Charmet G, Jeuffroy M-H, Le Gouy J, Meynard J-M, Rolland B (2014) Variétés et itinéraires techniques du blé: une évolution vers la diversification. Agron Environ Soc 4:13–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Girard N (2015) Knowledge at the boundary between science and society: a review of the use of farmers’ knowledge in agricultural development. J Knowl Manag 19(5):949–967

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Gisclard M, Chantre É, Cerf M, Guichard L (2015) Co-click’eau: une démarche d’intermédiation pour la construction d’une action collective locale? Nat Sci Soc 23:3–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatchuel A, Weil B et al (2003) A new approach of innovative design: an introduction to CK theory. In: DS 31: Proceedings of ICED 03, the 14th international conference on engineering design, Stockholm

  • Hatchuel A, Weil B, Le Masson P (2013) Towards an ontology of design: lessons from C–K design theory and forcing. Res Eng Des 24:147–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heffner EL, Sorrells ME, Jannink J-L (2009) Genomic selection for crop improvement. Crop Sci 49:1–12. doi:10.2135/cropsci2008.08.0512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kroll E, Le Masson P, Weil B (2014) Steepest-first exploration with learning-based path evaluation: uncovering the design strategy of parameter analysis with C–K theory. Res Eng Des 25:351–373. doi:10.1007/s00163-014-0182-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Labatut J, Aggeri F, Girard N (2012) Discipline and change: how technologies and organizational routines interact in new practice creation. Organ Stud 33:39–69. doi:10.1177/0170840611430589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Bail M, Jeuffroy MH, Bouchard C, Barbottin A (2005) Is it possible to forecast the grain quality and yield of different varieties of winter wheat from Minolta SPAD meter measurements? Eur J Agron 23:379–391. doi:10.1016/j.eja.2005.02.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Gal P-Y, Dugué P, Faure G, Novak S (2011) How does research address the design of innovative agricultural production systems at the farm level? A review. Agric Syst 104:714–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Masson P, Weil B (2013) Design theories as languages of the unknown: insights from the German roots of systematic design (1840–1960). Res Eng Des 24:105–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Masson P, Weil B, Hatchuel A (2010) Strategic management of design and innovation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Masson P, Weil B, Hatchuel A, Cogez P (2012) Why aren’t they locked in waiting games? Unlocking rules and the ecology of concepts in the semiconductor industry. Technol Anal Strateg 24(6):617–630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Masson P, Dorst K, Subrahmanian E (2013) Design theory: history, state of the art and advancements. Res Eng Des 24:97–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lecomte C, Prost L, Cerf M, Meynard J-M (2010) Basis for designing a tool to evaluate new cultivars. Agron Sustain Dev 30:667–677. doi:10.1051/agro/2009042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li FY, Johnstone PR, Pearson A, Fletcher A, Jamieson PD, Brown HE, Zyskowski RF (2009) AmaizeN: a decision support system for optimizing nitrogen management of maize. NJAS Wagening J Life Sci 57:93–100. doi:10.1016/j.njas.2009.07.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lô-Pelzer E, Bousset L, Jeuffroy MH et al (2010) SIPPOM-WOSR: a Simulator for integrated pathogen population management of phoma stem canker on winter oilseed rape: I. Description of the model. Field Crops Res 118:73–81. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2010.04.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Love T (2002) Constructing a coherent cross-disciplinary body of theory about designing and designs: some philosophical issues. Des Stud 23:345–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loyce C, Meynard JM, Bouchard C, Rolland B, Lonnet P, Bataillon P, Bernicot MH, Bonnefoy M, Charrier X, Debote B et al (2012) Growing winter wheat cultivars under different management intensities in France: a multicriteria assessment based on economic, energetic and environmental indicators. Field Crops Res 125:167–178. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2011.08.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malézieux E (2012) Designing cropping systems from nature. Agron Sustain Dev 32:15–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margolin V (1995) The politics of the artificial. Leonardo, New York, pp 349–356

    Google Scholar 

  • McCown RL (2002) Changing systems for supporting farmers’ decisions: problems, paradigms, and prospects. Agric Syst 74:179–220. doi:10.1016/S0308-521X(02)00026-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor PD, Fahrig L, Henein K, Merriam, G (1993) Connectivity is a vital element of landscape structure. Oikos 68(3):571–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meynard J-M, Dedieu B, Bos B (2012) Re-design and co-design of farming systems. An overview of methods and practices. In: Darnhofer I, Gibbon D, Dedieu B (eds) Farming systems research into the 21st century: The new dynamic. Springer, Berlin, pp 405–429

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being. Island Press, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Nassauer JI, Opdam P (2008) Design in science: extending the landscape ecology paradigm. Landsc Ecol 23:633–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prost L, Jeuffroy M-H (2007) Replacing the nitrogen nutrition index by the chlorophyll meter to assess wheat N status. Agron Sustain Dev 27:321–330. doi:10.1051/agro:2007032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prost L, Makowski D, Jeuffroy M-H (2008) Comparison of stepwise selection and Bayesian model averaging for yield gap analysis. Ecol Model 219:66–76. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.07.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prost L, Cerf M, Jeuffroy M-H (2012) Lack of consideration for end-users during the design of agronomic models. A review. Agron Sustain Dev 32:581–594. doi:10.1007/s13593-011-0059-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravier C, Prost L, Jeuffroy M-H, Wezel A, Paravano L, Reau R (2015) Multi-criteria and multi-stakeholder assessment of cropping systems for a result-oriented water quality preservation action programme. Land Use Policy 42:131–140. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.07.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reau R, Monnot L-A, Schaub A, Munier-Jolain N, Pambou I, Bockstaller C, Cariolle M, Chabert A, Dumans P (2012) Les ateliers de conception de systèmes de culture pour construire, évaluer et identifier des prototypes prometteurs. Innov Agron 20:5–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich Y, Hatchuel A, Shai O, Subrahmanian E (2012) A theoretical analysis of creativity methods in engineering design: casting and improving ASIT within C–K theory. J Eng Des 23:137–158. doi:10.1080/09544828.2010.493505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts J (2013) Organizational ignorance: towards a managerial perspective on the unknown. Manag Learn 44:215–236. doi:10.1177/1350507612443208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson T, Simonsen J (2012) Challenges and opportunities in contemporary participatory design. Des Issues 28:3–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruet F (2004) De la vache machine en élevage laitier. Quaderni 56:59–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusch A, Valantin-Morison M, Sarthou J-P et al (2010) Biological control of insect pests in agroecosystems: effects of crop management, farming systems, and seminatural habitats at the landscape scale: a review. Adv Agron 109:219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusch A, Valantin-Morison M, Sarthou J-P, Roger-Estrade J (2011) Multi-scale effects of landscape complexity and crop management on pollen beetle parasitism rate. Landsc Ecol 26:473–486. doi:10.1007/s10980-011-9573-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherr SJ, McNeely JA (2008) Biodiversity conservation and agricultural sustainability: towards a new paradigm of “ecoagriculture”landscapes. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 363:477–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segrestin B (2006) Innovation et coopération interentreprises: Comment gérer les partenariats d’exploration? CNRS

  • Shai O, Reich Y, Hatchuel A, Subrahmanian E (2013) Creativity and scientific discovery with infused design and its analysis with C–K theory. Res Eng Des 24:201–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon H (1969) The sciences of the artificial. MIT Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Soulignac V, Ermine J-L, Paris J-L, Devise O, Chanet J-P (2012) A knowledge management system for exchanging and creating knowledge in organic farming. EJKM Electron J Knowl Manag 10:163

    Google Scholar 

  • Stockle CO, Donatelli M, Nelson R (2003) CropSyst, a cropping systems simulation model. Eur J Agron 18:289–307. doi:10.1016/S1161-0301(02)00109-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suh NP (1990) The principles of design. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Suh NP (1999) A theory of complexity, periodicity and the design axioms. Res Eng Des 11:116–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toffolini Q, Jeuffroy M-H, Prost L (2016) Indicators used by farmers to design agricultural systems: a survey. Agron Sustain Dev 36:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vereijken P (1997) A methodical way of prototyping integrated and ecological arable farming systems (I/EAFS) in interaction with pilot farms. Dev Crop Sci 25:293–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker DH, Thorne PJ, Sinclair FL, Thapa B, Wood CD, Subba DB (1999) A systems approach to comparing indigenous and scientific knowledge: consistency and discriminatory power of indigenous and laboratory assessment of the nutritive value of tree fodder. Agric Syst 62:87–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams BK (2011) Adaptive management of natural resources—framework and issues. J Environ Manag 92:1346–1353. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.10.041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe MS, Baresel JP, Desclaux D, Goldringer I, Hoad S, Kovacs G, Löschenberger F, Miedaner T, Østergård H, van Bueren ETL (2008) Developments in breeding cereals for organic agriculture. Euphytica 163:323–346. doi:10.1007/s10681-008-9690-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank our two research divisions at INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research) for their support to the research on design in agriculture: the Science for Action and Development (SAD) division and the Environment and Agronomy (EA) division. This work was realized on the initiative of the newly born INRA institute for design in agrifood systems. We thank Liz Libbrecht for language editing the English version of this paper and are deeply grateful to the three anonymous reviewers for their comments that were of great help for improving this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR LISIS, INRA, CNRS, ESIEE Paris, UPEM, Université Paris-Est, 77454, Marne-La-Vallée, France

    Lorène Prost & Marianne Cerf

  2. UMR SADAPT, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France

    Elsa T. A. Berthet & Jean-Marc Meynard

  3. UMR Agronomie, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France

    Marie-Hélène Jeuffroy

  4. UMR AGIR, INRA, Université de Toulouse, INPT ENSAT, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France

    Julie Labatut

  5. MINES ParisTech, Centre de Gestion Scientifique, PSL Research University, 75006, Paris, France

    Julie Labatut

  6. Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada

    Elsa T. A. Berthet

Authors
  1. Lorène Prost
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elsa T. A. Berthet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marianne Cerf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marie-Hélène Jeuffroy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Julie Labatut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jean-Marc Meynard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lorène Prost.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Prost, L., Berthet, E.T.A., Cerf, M. et al. Innovative design for agriculture in the move towards sustainability: scientific challenges. Res Eng Design 28, 119–129 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-016-0233-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-016-0233-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation