Lauren Forest

Relationships between agricultural extension service providers and sustainable agricultural systems

Traditionally, the major providers of publicly funded agricultural extension services in Australia were the state departments of agriculture or primary industries. However, agricultural extension services have since undergone dramatic and rapid change and a multitude of alternative service providers and institutional arrangements have appeared.

There is now a diversity of stakeholder involved in extension in its many forms. Lauren’s research will explore the influence of the increasing role of the private sector and various extension related industry groups on sustainable agricultural systems. Questions of interest to her research include:

• Has increasing private sector and industry involvement in extension had any influence on farmer implementation of sustainable agricultural systems?
• What interests do private and industry extension service providers have in providing services in relation to sustainable agricultural systems?
• In the declining public sector involvement in agricultural extension, how capable are the private and industry sectors in servicing farmers in relation to sustainable agricultural systems?

Lauren’s research falls into the CRC’s Program 5 research area and is related to the EverTrain project.

For more information, email Lauren.