Brazilian university technology transfer to rural areas

• Autor(a) principal: Marchesan,Enio
• Data de Publicação: 2010
• Outros Autores: Senseman,Scott Allen
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Ciência Rural
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-84782010001000031
• topic: technology diffusion; information transfer; rural extension; universities extension; extension approach

In agriculture, there is a difference between average yield obtained by farmers and crop potential. There is technology available to increase yields, but not all farmers have access to it and/or use this information. This clearly characterizes an extension and technology transference problem. There are several technology transfer systems, but there is no system to fit all conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to create extension solutions according to local conditions. Another rural extension challenge is efficiency, despite continuous funding reductions. One proposal that has resulted from extension reform worldwide has suggested integration between the public and private sectors. The public universities could play the role of training and updating technical assistance of human resources, which is the one of the main aspects that has limited technology transfer. The objective of this study was to identify approaches to promote technology transfer generated in Brazilian public universities to rural areas through literature review. An experimental approach of technology transfer is presented here where a Brazilian university extension Vice-chancellor incorporates professionals from consolidated research groups according to demand. In this way, public universities take part of their social functions, by integrating teaching, research, and extension.