Supporting the Codesign of Agronomic Innovations with Data

This book originates from the observation that codesign processes in Living Labs often favour local knowledge over academic knowledge and are rarely informed by systematically collected data. While local knowledge is invaluable, relying exclusively on it can inadvertently limit the creativity and problem-solving potential of the codesign process. In practice, this can lead to innovations that replicate existing practices rather than exploring novel solutions to key bottlenecks in the systems under study.
The book presents a set of reproducible, data-driven workflows designed to enhance the codesign process within Living Labs. These workflows integrate KoBoToolbox, an open-access digital platform for participatory data collection, with R, a powerful open-source environment for statistical computing and visualization. Using Mbire District, Zimbabwe, as a case study, the book provides clear, step-by-step guidance for researchers and practitioners on how data can be used to enrich codesign processes. It was compiled using the bookdown package, enabling the seamless integration of R code, analytical results, and narrative into a single, fully reproducible document.
The book includes a collection of XLSForms (inputs to KoBoToolbox) and well-documented R scripts developed for the specific context of Mbire District during the implementation of the CGIAR initiative ‘Transformational Agroecology across Food, Land, and Water Systems’. You can download the PDF version of the book, or use the web version.