Finola McCoy’s Nuffield research, sponsored by the Irish Farmers Journal and the IFA, takes a look at engagement between agricultural service providers and its benefits for agriculture as a whole. Her idea of agricultural service provider networks (SPNs) is not unheard of and can be seen operating here and abroad: for example, Landbridge UK and €uroMilk are SPNs.

“Knowledge exchange between service providers is an essential part of continual professional development,” said McCoy. “Developing cross-professional networks can facilitate this, as well as improving the feedback loop from extension to research and development.”

Cross-professional networks

Many existing networks focus on one particular group of professionals. However, developing cross-professional networks has a number of barriers, not least of which is the time it takes to participate in networking and upskilling events.

“Competition between service providers, both real and perceived, can also be an obstacle to building networks,” said McCoy. “Sometimes people feel they cannot work together for fear of losing business or clients.”

To initiate and sustain a network, an honest broker is required. Rather than reinventing the wheel, McCoy identified a number of networks already on the ground that can be expanded. The honest broker needs to be there to co-ordinate networking events, but cannot be personally involved in it. The Agricultural Science Association (ASA) is one ideal existing broker, according to McCoy.

Another example of a cross-professional network she found in New Zealand was a group of professionals from different areas who all met on Wednesday mornings for breakfast in a café.

“People don’t always automatically know how to work together, or be part of a team. However, this can be managed when service professionals understand the different roles that they play, the varying skills they possess and how to combine those complementary skills to maximum benefit.”