1) The document discusses an innovation platform in Malawi that used an innovation systems approach and brokerage to address the challenge of low availability of quality tilapia fingerlings. 2) A national innovation coalition was formed including farmers, researchers, government, and private sector to identify the key constraint and broker solutions. 3) An innovation broker helped coordinate actor networks, disseminate improved tilapia strains, build hatchery capacity, and facilitate policy changes, leading to more private sector engagement in seed production and dissemination of better fingerlings.

1. INNOVATION BROKERAGE IN AQUACULTURE: Lessons from the Malawi fish farming innovation platform Daniel Jamu1, Elias Madzudzo1,2, Nobel Moyo2, Hastings Zidana3, Mphatso Chapotera1 1WorldFish Center, Malawi2Research Into Use Programme,.3National Aquaculture Center

2. Farmer-scientist research participatory approach

3. Innovation systems approach Formation of transient networks by chain actors Formulate innovation challenge Identify system blockages that affect efficient operations of value chain Identify a broker to coordinate networks Nurture and facilitate network

4. Development of participatory research and extension in Malawi AQUACULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 1970-1990 1996-2007 1990-1995 2007- On-station research; farming systems research Farmer-scientist research partnerships (FSRP) On-station research-linear model Innovation systems approach AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 1960-1980 1980-1995 1996- FSRP-Innovation systems approach

5. Reasons for the sudden shift from FSRP to innovation systems approach Promotion of innovation systems by DfiD RIU Policy shift towards commercial SME aquaculture New actors and partnerships Value chain approach

6. The Innovation Challenge and key constraint to unblock Innovation challenge “How to increase tilapia production by small, medium and large scale aquaculture producers?” Key constraint to unblock “Low availability of quality fingerlings of the improved O. Shiranus strain”

7. Brokering the innovation National Innovation Coalition Innovative Fish Farmers Network Department of Fisheries/ PIAD National Aquaculture Centre Riu Country Programme Office Research Organisations and Universities Innovation Broker Private Sector NGOs

8. Fingerling certification PIAD Tilapia Hatchery guidelines Facilitating changes in rules and regulations Platform for policy advocacy Boundary work Institutional change Disseminating knowledge & technology Fish Farming Innovation Challenge Demand articulation Visioning Foresight Institutional support Innovative Fish Farmer Network Peer exchange Knowledge brokering Existence and performance of improved OS Knowledge gaps assessment Diagnosis Communicating technology Innovation Broker FF Platform Demand stimulation Demonstrations on improved OS growth by 4 fry nurseries High quality improved OS finger lings Capacity building (entrepreneurship) Certified hatcheries Gate keeping SME’s IFFN, Maldeco Organizational development Network brokering Selecting collaborators Training and competence building Bunda and NAC Match making Technical skills Group dynamics Incubating enterprises NGO (WVI) Linking and coordinating Brood-stock, seed and feed Innovative fish farmers network 4 Hatcheries and 1 SME Hatchery Management Fish farming innovation brokerage

9. Achievements Private sector access to policy makers enhanced Development and approval of fish seed certification process Facilitated the dissemination of improved O. shiranusto hatcheries, nurseries and farmers

10. IPG Output Jamu, D., E. Madzudzo, N. Moyo, H. Zidana, M. Chapotera (in prep). Innovation brokerage in aquaculture: Lessons from the Malawi fish farming innovation platform (Journal of Agriculture Education and Extension)

11. Key lessons Innovation systems approach could be a valuable tool for accelerating adoption of aquaculture technologies and achieving development impact at scale Effective implementation depends on the development of effective and durable partnerships. Choice of innovation broker critical to success of the approach