Process vs Outcomes
As a final observation, it appears that the complexities of achieving sustainable agriculture has a propensity (unless deliberately avoided) to focus the "sustainable agriculture support industry" on undertaking "institutionally focused" activities and carrying out processes rather than taking responsibility for outcomes. Perhaps this is due to the difficulty of defining sustainable outcomes for which individuals, institutions, communities and politicians can be held accountable. Maybe it is too hard and too challenging to be held responsible for such significant and critical outcomes. Maybe life is just too complex.
Whatever the reasons - and maybe they should be researched - one of the consequences appears to be an over-weighting of doing things right, rather than doing the right things.
Central Government appears to focus on strategies and visions for achieving sustainable agriculture. Local Government appears preoccupied with the procedures and processes of implementing resource management legislation. Researchers are concerned to produce scientific outputs to be used by others as inputs. Facilitators are hell bent on getting others to do things (in line with policy objectives of course!). Consultants are willing to provide the outputs clients pay for. Land holders are often struggling for survival. The net result is that the overall outcome of sustainable resource management is achieved only slowly. While this judgement may appear harsh, it is nonetheless what an increasing number of observers are saying of Australian Landcare initiatives (Martin and Woodhill, 1995). We hope it is not where we are in New Zealand; we suspect there is, however, some basis for concern. The challenge appears to be in collectively focusing on sustainable outcomes and learning about how we might achieve them and build even more on the progress made to date. Agricultural scientists of both the soft and hard persuasion have, we believe, a lot to offer in this process. We, too, in central government agencies, must also work more collectively in facilitating sustainable agriculture outcomes.
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
Contact this person
