Researchers at the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) have pioneered an innovative approach called triadic comparison of technologies (tricot), which directly involves farmers as active collaborators in the development of new crop varieties. Over the past decade, this method has transformed how these crops are tested and refined.
Traditionally, crop varieties were tested in large-scale field plots under standardized conditions, often disconnecting the research from real-world farming contexts. Tricot changes this paradigm by enabling farmers to test new varieties on their own land, under the same conditions where these crops would ultimately be grown.
Jacob van Etten, Principal Scientist and Director for Digital Inclusion at the Alliance, emphasizes that this approach recognizes the critical role of farmer-technology interaction in driving agricultural innovation. The methodology allows for a more nuanced understanding of how different varieties perform across diverse environments and farming practices.
What began as pilot projects in India and Ethiopia has now become the leading on-farm testing methodology in the NARES-CGIAR network. This rapid scaling has been facilitated by the creation of standardized routines and digital tools that streamline the process from experimental design to data analysis.
A 2024 study in the Trifinio region of Central America demonstrated the cost-effectiveness and scalability of tricot compared to traditional group-based approaches. The research, led by Martina Occelli, found that while both methods led to similar levels of crop diversification, tricot had lower dropout rates and produced more externally valid data.
The success of tricot has attracted interest beyond public research institutions. Private extension organizations are now applying and scaling the approach across multiple crops and countries in Africa, signaling its potential for widespread adoption in the agricultural sector.
As tricot matures, researchers are exploring ways to make the process even more farmer-driven and inclusive. This includes investigating how to sustain enthusiasm and skills among participants, ensure gender and socio-economic diversity in farmer networks, and integrate tricot results more effectively into breeding programs.
Another recent study in Uganda has shown promising results in using tricot to capture not just agronomic data, but also important information on culinary preferences and gender-specific crop traits. This holistic approach could lead to the development of varieties that are not only high yielding but also well-suited to local tastes and cultural practices.
By bridging the gap between scientific research and practical farming, tricot is paving the way for more responsive, efficient, and impactful agricultural innovation. As food insecurity continues to be a global challenge, approaches like tricot that empower farmers and improve crop variety development will be crucial in ensuring sustainable food systems for the future.
