Videos by Timothy Silberg
This video details the design and systems thinking approach a Makerere Univeristy (Uganda) facult... more This video details the design and systems thinking approach a Makerere Univeristy (Uganda) faculty member took to define a problem and develop an innovation. The faculty member, Dr. Julia Kigozi, applied and was accepted to an 18-month program facilitated by Michigan State Univeristy called the Innovation Scholars Program. Dr. Kigozi defined fruit processing issues from end-users' perspectives and develop various equipment with them to better address their issues with locally developed solutions. 1 views
Book Reviews by Timothy Silberg
Agricultural Systems, 2015
Balancing on a Planet: the Future of Food and Agriculture, David
A. Cleveland (Ed.). University o... more Balancing on a Planet: the Future of Food and Agriculture, David
A. Cleveland (Ed.). University of California Press, Berkeley, CA,
USA (2014). 352 pp., $34.95, ISBN: 978-0-520-27742-7 (paperback);
$70.00, ISBN: 978-0-520-27741-10 (hardback); $34.95, ISBN:
978-0-520-957084 (PDF E-Book & ePUB format)
Papers by Timothy Silberg
Journal of Engineering Research, 2024
Taking account of end-user perspectives is crucial in the design and development process to ensur... more Taking account of end-user perspectives is crucial in the design and development process to ensure successful technology adoption considering the evolving customer demands. This study utilized the user-centric Human Center Design (HCD) framework to redevelop food processing equipment, specifically pulpers and pasteurizers, previously developed by the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DABE) of Makerere University. The study implemented several interventions to augment the adoption of processing equipment among MSME agro-processors in Uganda. This included development of modified pasteurizers (biomass and electrical) and pulpers, development of user manuals, and training of processors on the use of equipment. All interventions were designed with a focus on the needs and preferences of the end users. This study demonstrates how HCD can be used to develop food processing equipment that addresses the dynamic needs of micro, small, and mediumscale agro-processors in form of production capacity and cost of ownership. The study findings can influence large-scale research and policy toward the production and adoption of user-centric food processing equipment, which in turn can provide agro-processors with increased livelihoods and reduce the major challenge of postharvest losses.
JOURNAL OF RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION, 2024
An inclusive and socially legitimate governance structure is absent to address concerns over new ... more An inclusive and socially legitimate governance structure is absent to address concerns over new agricultural biotechnologies. Establishing an agricultural bioethics commission devoted to inclusive deliberation on ethics and governance in agricultural and food biotechnology is urgent. Highlighting the social and ethical dimensions of current agricultural bioengineering disputes in the food system, we discuss how a nationally recognized policy forum could improve decision-making and increase public understanding of the issues. We clarify ways the concepts that are used to categorize food and frame governance of food affect consumer choices, and how dissemination of information and the mode of dissemination can contribute to social inequities. We cite the record of medically-oriented bioethic commissions and the history of international bioethic commissions in support of our argument, and end by discussing what such a commission dedicated to agriculture and food issues could reasonably be expected to achieve.
Ecology and Society, 2024
Ecological practices such as intercropping maize (Zea mays) with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) ha... more Ecological practices such as intercropping maize (Zea mays) with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) have been promoted to combat parasitic weeds like Striga (Striga asiatica). Intercropping has been promoted across Africa as a Striga control practice (SCP) and food security measure. Despite past efforts, millions of smallholder farmers (cultivating < 2 ha of maize) still struggle to implement SCPs. Social and ecological factors that prevent SCP implementation are well documented in the literature, but their underlying interactions have remained elusive. System dynamics modeling can uncover these interactions and assess their effect on intercropping rates as well as Striga emergence. This study presents a participatory mixed methods approach to build a system dynamics model based on two theories: diffusion of innovations and resource pool dynamics. The model estimates the population of fields where Striga emerged in response to intercropped fields when various interventions were implemented. According to model simulations, if new policies are not enacted to support intercropping, Striga is likely to spread to 2,625,000 maize fields, parasitizing almost 75% of smallholder farms across Central Malawi by 2036. The participatory approach allowed us to evaluate several policies, one of which sustained enough adopters to limit Striga emergence to < 500,000 fields, reducing the weed's threat to food security. This policy considers how input costs and erratic rainfall can lead to disadoption, therefore, supporting the implementation of five to six consecutive years of intercropping by providing both fertilizer subsidies and demonstration plots. In this study, our participatory approach has shown to develop a model that can highlight interactions in social ecological systems, their leverage points, and how they can be exploited to develop effective food security policies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, 2023
Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) are widely used in behavioral sciences to examine how humans v... more Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) are widely used in behavioral sciences to examine how humans value attributes of a technology, how those values drive decisions, and how they make trade-offs. The method has increasingly been used to inform technologies and interventions for addressing critical issues (e.g. disease and hunger). Different formats and symbols are used to deliver DCEs and represent attributes, respectively (e.g. questionnaire presenting two vaccines with different photos repre- senting risks). When these formats or symbols are unfamiliar to respon- dents, they are unlikely to understand DCEs, raising questions about the validity of findings and their contribution to future technology and inter- ventions. This research note offers a pathway to develop more robust DCEs with participants. In doing so, participant understanding of the experiment is increased and more accurate depictions of their choices are captured.
Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 2023
Various technologies have been disseminated to digest organic waste, capture biogas and provide s... more Various technologies have been disseminated to digest organic waste, capture biogas and provide sustainable energy. Despite numerous efforts to diffuse biogas technology in Brazil, uptake remains slow. This may be due to low recognition among key actors that support the technology with resources in a wider Innovation System (IS). We explore how actors view the existence of this IS in Brazil and its fragmented context. To investigate actor views and perceptions, we employ a factor analysis and an item response model to map out system functionality. The analysis unveiled the existence of a non-balanced IS, awaiting to accelerate its expansion phase given current entrepreneurial activities, but remains impeded by limited resources and legitimacy. Actor responses indicate that for the expansion phase to accelerate, energy markets need to be established via state and federal support. These markets demand support from utility companies who influence the IS across multiple facets (e.g., public tender, tariffs, energy auctions). Ultimately, the expansion phase is hinged upon the creation of a national policy that includes short-term objectives for biogas shared between stakeholders and an outlined role for utility companies to integrate renewable energy sources.
Journal of Sustainable Development, Sep 29, 2017
Compost micro-entrepreneurship has been used as strategy to increase the incomes of poor and rura... more Compost micro-entrepreneurship has been used as strategy to increase the incomes of poor and rural farming communities. Nevertheless, several difficulties can arise to sustain these small businesses. The conversion of organic material into compost requires labor, tools and infrastructure. Many poor and rural microenterprises
cannot afford all of these inputs to sustain operations. Literature suggests that social capital and collective action can address challenges related to limited resources for communities and small businesses. Little research, however, has explored how coworker characteristics and their cooperative efforts affect the financial sustainability of compost micro-enterprises. The objective of this study was to unveil whether rural compost microenterprises use social capital and/or collective action to address various challenges related to natural and financial capital, and if so, in what manner. A multisite case study framework was implemented using participant observation to identify common challenges faced by compost microenterprises in Chimaltenanago, Guatemala. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine if coworker characteristics (related to social capital) addressed these challenges, and if so, how. Four characteristics related to social capital emerged from a thematic analysis, including 1) raw material access based on coworker occupation, 2) overhead savings from human capital, 3) credit/market-entry granted from social networks, and 4) consumer trust gained from social capital/gender. It appears the investigation and development of compost microenterprises should be more cognizant of opportunities related to coworker characteristics, especially those related to social capital and collective action. As a result, management training can be integrated within entrepreneurship development to sustain urban and rural economies.
Agricultural Systems, 2021
Across southern Africa (SA), significant maize yield losses are attributed to invasive and parasi... more Across southern Africa (SA), significant maize yield losses are attributed to invasive and parasitic weeds. Abundance of Striga (Striga asiatica) has become more frequent in smallholder farms (<2 ha) in the past decade. Various Striga control practices (SCPs) have been disseminated across SA, yet often, without decision support tools to inform extension officers and researchers which ones are most appropriate for smallholder contexts. System dynamics modeling (SDM) provides an opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of SCPs across multiple seasons in different agroecosystems and their associated environments. We developed a SDM to evaluate the long-term efficacy of four SCPs popularly used in maize-based cropping systems. Observations from studies outlining local soil seedbanks, emergence and flowering rates in farmer fields were used to calibrate the SDM. Model simulations indicate that while a combination of SCPs are necessary to manage the weed, future research should focus on developing smallholder-adapted SCPs that address the attachment stage of the weed's lifecycle (e.g., timely manure application) rather than its germination, emergence or flowering stages. Given the devastating effects S. asiatica has had on food security in Malawi and across SA, it is imperative to develop decision support tools like systems models to evaluate SCPs for smallholders. Models that do not capture the underlying mechanisms driving S. asiatica infestations may provide extension officers with potentially misleading information , and subsequently, the delivery of ineffective SCPs.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021
In recent years, concerns have grown about increased demand for energy and waste accumulation in ... more In recent years, concerns have grown about increased demand for energy and waste accumulation in Brazil. Technologies that digest waste and capture biogas in the process have been presented as an avenue to address these two issues. Brazil’s biogas potential has been studied extensively, however, less investigation has estimated production across time. A system dynamics model (SDM) was developed to estimate biogas yield over a 30-year period from municipal waste, feedstock, vinasse and waste water routes. The SDM was parameterized using open databases and literature, with a focus on technology diffusion. The analysis indicates production may reach 5.3 million cubic meters/day of methane by 2030 to 19.7 million in 2050. Exchange of information (via word of mouth) exponentially increased technology adoption rates, suggesting that production can be supported by disseminating information that promotes the environmental and economic benefits of transforming biomass into energy. Slow growth was attributed to an absence of policies that incentivized production and its research and development programs. These two hurdles presented challenges for adopters to overcome high upfront costs. Future efforts should focus on the solid waste and feedstock routes given that they assumed the largest production and fast growing population of adopters, respectively. Radical and integrated policies are required to reach substantial biogas yields from four routes to address environmental and energy concerns for Brazil.
Food Security, 2020
In southern Africa the repeated cultivation of maize (Zea mays) and climate variability (especial... more In southern Africa the repeated cultivation of maize (Zea mays) and climate variability (especially frequent and extended droughts) have created conditions favouring parasitic weed infestation (e.g., Striga asiatica). In the past decade, Striga has reduced maize yields for smallholder farmers (cultivating less than two hectares), not only in southern Africa, but across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Parasitism of maize by Striga leads to significant grain yield losses. Intercropping legumes within maize-based systems has been shown to decrease Striga infestation and improve food security. Before cultivating these cropping systems, farmers consider different attributes associated with them (e.g., efforts or cost of inputs). Understanding farmers' preferences for these attributes generates insights as how to increase adoption of intercropping as a Striga control practice. We use discrete choice experiments to identify the trade-offs which Malawian farmers are willing to accept among the attributes of choice scenarios for Striga control practices. Results indicate that farmers are willing (and in some cases unwilling) to sacrifice different fractions of maize yield for suppression of Striga, labour intensity, soil fertility and intercropped legume yield. Male and female farmers have heterogeneous preferences for these attributes. These findings have significant implications for Striga management and its effect on a crop that sustains the livelihoods of more than 80% of Malawians.
International Journal of Agircultural Sustainability, 2017
In Malawi, population growth has reduced opportunities for farmers to expand and cultivate new la... more In Malawi, population growth has reduced opportunities for farmers to expand and cultivate new land. The country’s primary farming population is comprised of smallholders, many who cultivate monocultures of maize (Zea mays). To reduce negative outcomes from this practice, intercropping maize with legumes has been promoted. The sustainable intensification (SI) practice was once widely used, but has declined in recent decades. Little is known about the determinants of intercropping or its role in agricultural development. The objective of this study was to examine the drivers of intercropping among smallholders. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to estimate the determinants of intercropping based on a survey of 324 households. Smallholders who sold legumes were more likely to intercrop, contrary to literature positing intercropping as a practice primarily intended to enhance food security. In addition, complementary SI practices such as fertilizer, manure and compost application were more likely to have occurred on intercropped fields relative to sole maize fields. Furthermore, smallholder farmers appeared to apply more fertilizer to their intercropped fields relative to their sole maize fields. The study highlights the value of including field-level characteristics and household socioeconomic survey data to understand farming practices as a means to inform agricultural policy.
Journal of Sustainable Development, 2017
Compost micro-entrepreneurship has been used as strategy to increase the incomes of poor and rura... more Compost micro-entrepreneurship has been used as strategy to increase the incomes of poor and rural farming communities. Nevertheless, several difficulties can arise to sustain these small businesses. The conversion of organic material into compost requires labor, tools and infrastructure. Many poor and rural microenterprises cannot afford all of these inputs to sustain operations. Literature suggests that social capital and collective action can address challenges related to limited resources for communities and small businesses. Little research, however, has explored how coworker characteristics and their cooperative efforts affect the financial sustainability of compost micro-enterprises. The objective of this study was to unveil whether rural compost microenterprises use social capital and/or collective action to address various challenges related to natural and financial capital, and if so, in what manner. A multisite case study framework was implemented using participant observation to identify common challenges faced by compost microenterprises in Chimaltenanago, Guatemala. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine if coworker characteristics (related to social capital) addressed these challenges, and if so, how. Four characteristics related to social capital emerged from a thematic analysis, including 1) raw material access based on coworker occupation, 2) overhead savings from human capital, 3) credit/market-entry granted from social networks, and 4) consumer trust gained from social capital/gender. It appears the investigation and development of compost microenterprises should be more cognizant of opportunities related to coworker characteristics, especially those related to social capital and collective action. As a result, management training can be integrated within entrepreneurship development to sustain urban and rural economies.
Agricultural Sciences, 2019
Weed abundance in cereal-based systems has increased in recent years across sub-Saharan Africa fo... more Weed abundance in cereal-based systems has increased in recent years across sub-Saharan Africa for smallholder farmers (cultivating less than two hectares). Smallholders can employ numerous practices to control weeds such as intercropping cereal crops with legumes. We conducted a review to identify the possible mechanisms responsible for weed control according to legume species, weed species and agroecosystem. In the review, we first present common weed species found in specific agroecological contexts. Then, we propose several legume in-tercrops that provide some control of these species and the reasons why. Finally, we highlight possible social and biophysical tradeoffs for cultivating legumes as a weed control practice in smallholder cereal systems. The review found that while many studies explained the effect a certain legume-intercrop had upon weeds (e.g., emergence rates), few identified the mechanism or mechanisms (e.g., increased predation) behind their control. Without understanding these mechanisms, it is difficult to propose management recommendations for inter-cropping (e.g., seeding rates). Furthermore, few studies have investigated how legume intercrops affect multiple components of farming systems, including the smallholders that cultivate them. Determining how these components connect and impose tradeoffs for smallholders unveils the drivers (or barriers) behind legume inter-cropping as a weed control practice.
Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 2013
The economic sustainability of innovations disseminated to rural communities is an important issu... more The economic sustainability of innovations disseminated to rural communities is an important issue in agricultural development. However, individuals working in international development often do not fully employ monitoring systems to analyze the long-term profit of an innovation prior to diffusion. This multi-case study used qualitative methods, including individual/group interviews and observations, to gather data to analyze all necessary inputs of compost micro-enterprises in Chimaltenango, Guatemala. Each micro-enterprise’s relative output was examined to determine how agricultural extension efforts could modify its operations to produce profits. The results revealed entrepreneurs lacked an awareness of total inputs used/needed for a compost operation and lacked effective financial record keeping practices. Net profit fell when inexpensive unskilled labor was used, when the operation’s infrastructure deterred access to transport or deterred vision of the operation and when entrep...
Conference Presentations by Timothy Silberg
Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research - Regional Stakeholder Convening (Southern Africa)), 2024
The introduction that sets the stage for the discussion on the impact of climate change on legume... more The introduction that sets the stage for the discussion on the impact of climate change on legume value chains in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. The background section is dedicated to defining legume systems and their functionality, as well as examining the vulnerability of these systems in contrast to their responsiveness to climate change. In the subsequent parts of the presentation, a systematic analysis presented to identify specific vulnerabilities within different legume value chain segments and regions. The results section highlights a brief overview the climate smart varieties each country has developed in recent years and the vulnerabilities of those systems to deliver and cultivate them. Finally the conclusions section suggests several segment to focus research for developing innovations that will likely equate to systems wide impact.
XXXIX ENCONTRO NACIONAL DE ENGENHARIA DE PRODUCAO, 2021
Considering the development of the Brazilian energy matrix and the benefits associated with the b... more Considering the development of the Brazilian energy matrix and the benefits associated with the biogas chain, the present article seeks to project the diffusion of the biogas production in the country and to propose scenarios aiming its expansion. A system dynamics model was built, based on the theory of technology diffusion, with data on the number of plants and scientific publications on the country potential. The results indicate a slow expansion with great potential to be accessed. The analysis indicated that the country's production will most likely reach 4.03 million cubic meters of methane equivalent per day by 2030, capable of providing about 0.5% of the energy demand of the country , nearly 3.39 TWh of energy produced. Results also have shown that the actual scenario of Brazil is not favorable to technology, feed-in tariffs and incentives development. New policies should support Medium and Small plants in order to reach higher biogas yields, since these plants can spread quickly and promote a decentralized energy matrix more widely, policy should also promote an import tax reduction to enhance plants lifespan with state of the art technology. Institutions have the means to promote incentives as well as promote new business models.
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Videos by Timothy Silberg
Book Reviews by Timothy Silberg
A. Cleveland (Ed.). University of California Press, Berkeley, CA,
USA (2014). 352 pp., $34.95, ISBN: 978-0-520-27742-7 (paperback);
$70.00, ISBN: 978-0-520-27741-10 (hardback); $34.95, ISBN:
978-0-520-957084 (PDF E-Book & ePUB format)
Papers by Timothy Silberg
cannot afford all of these inputs to sustain operations. Literature suggests that social capital and collective action can address challenges related to limited resources for communities and small businesses. Little research, however, has explored how coworker characteristics and their cooperative efforts affect the financial sustainability of compost micro-enterprises. The objective of this study was to unveil whether rural compost microenterprises use social capital and/or collective action to address various challenges related to natural and financial capital, and if so, in what manner. A multisite case study framework was implemented using participant observation to identify common challenges faced by compost microenterprises in Chimaltenanago, Guatemala. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine if coworker characteristics (related to social capital) addressed these challenges, and if so, how. Four characteristics related to social capital emerged from a thematic analysis, including 1) raw material access based on coworker occupation, 2) overhead savings from human capital, 3) credit/market-entry granted from social networks, and 4) consumer trust gained from social capital/gender. It appears the investigation and development of compost microenterprises should be more cognizant of opportunities related to coworker characteristics, especially those related to social capital and collective action. As a result, management training can be integrated within entrepreneurship development to sustain urban and rural economies.
Conference Presentations by Timothy Silberg
A. Cleveland (Ed.). University of California Press, Berkeley, CA,
USA (2014). 352 pp., $34.95, ISBN: 978-0-520-27742-7 (paperback);
$70.00, ISBN: 978-0-520-27741-10 (hardback); $34.95, ISBN:
978-0-520-957084 (PDF E-Book & ePUB format)
cannot afford all of these inputs to sustain operations. Literature suggests that social capital and collective action can address challenges related to limited resources for communities and small businesses. Little research, however, has explored how coworker characteristics and their cooperative efforts affect the financial sustainability of compost micro-enterprises. The objective of this study was to unveil whether rural compost microenterprises use social capital and/or collective action to address various challenges related to natural and financial capital, and if so, in what manner. A multisite case study framework was implemented using participant observation to identify common challenges faced by compost microenterprises in Chimaltenanago, Guatemala. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine if coworker characteristics (related to social capital) addressed these challenges, and if so, how. Four characteristics related to social capital emerged from a thematic analysis, including 1) raw material access based on coworker occupation, 2) overhead savings from human capital, 3) credit/market-entry granted from social networks, and 4) consumer trust gained from social capital/gender. It appears the investigation and development of compost microenterprises should be more cognizant of opportunities related to coworker characteristics, especially those related to social capital and collective action. As a result, management training can be integrated within entrepreneurship development to sustain urban and rural economies.