Scaling agricultural innovations: A systematic assessment with implications for pluralistic extension

Gebreyes, M., Assefa, H. and Mekonnen, K. 2025.Scaling agricultural innovations: A systematic assessment with implications for pluralistic extension. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

Purpose This paper examines innovation scaling strategies through an Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) lens, drawing attention to the plurality of actors involved in advisory services. Systematic scaling assessments help reveal the competencies rural advisors need to support innovation diffusion, offering new insights into pluralistic extension.

Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered through scaling assessment workshops in two operational areas of the Africa RISING project in Ethiopia. The Scaling Scan tool guided qualitative and quantitative data collection, focusing on 10 scaling ingredients and 40 specific questions. These ingredients were used to code qualitative data, and mean scores of the questions were visualized in spider diagrams.

Findings The AIS lens and scaling assessments reveal that extension professionals often lack key competencies beyond education and technical knowledge—specifically in finance, business development, value chain management, and stakeholder engagement. These findings highlight the need for broader skill sets and move the discussion beyond public vs. private extension modalities.

Practical implications Effective scaling requires a more functionally diverse extension system. Addressing constraints such as missing value chain actors, weak business cases, and limited financing demands better integration of advisory services, market actors, and financial institutions within pluralistic extension modalities.

Theoretical implication The paper advances theorization by shifting from inclusion/exclusion to positioning agricultural knowledge and innovation systems as core constructs. It also reconceptualizes extension professionalism as a facilitative role in value chains and innovation systems.

Originality/value The paper links innovation scaling to broader debates on AIS and pluralistic advisory systems.