How triple helix ecosystems can support climate smart agriculture innovation uptake by farmers

For emerging economies in Africa, the great challenge ahead is to build and maintain its breadbaskets to supply the growing food demand from the urban centers. This requires a rural transformation. If managed well, it could also create new economic opportunities for producers and agribusiness. In this chapter, we take climate smart agriculture (CSA) as a concept to steer this transformation. Yet CSA depends on the uptake of climate adaptation and mitigation technologies by individual farmers. We argue that farmers need CSA ecosystems to support them in this transition process. Based on literature research, we first link the development of such ecosystems to what is known from existing theories, using the innovation management and triple helix theory. We then develop a triple helix platform model, resulting in a triple helix ecosystem development approach specifically designed for supporting CSA farmers. Through quantitative research, we test the relevance of this approach among CSA farmers and stakeholders and recommend further research.