Farmers & Cooperatives
GIVES TO AGRIFARM
Feedback & · usage data
GETS FROM AGRIFARM
Crop tips & · price alerts
AGRIFARM UGANDA · RESEARCH PROJECT
Knowledge that grows with every farmer.
Exploring a more inclusive way to connect Uganda's smallholder farmers with practical agricultural knowledge, local experience and trusted experts.
An MCI Innsbruck academic project in the research and concept phase — not yet a live platform.
AgriFarm CONCEPT
GROW BETTER · LEARN TOGETHER
A more connected agricultural future.
A vision for practical, local learning
FARMERS
FIRST
FIRST
Made for simple phonesSMS · USSD · Voice
Knowledge is sharedFarmers ↔ Experts
Useful, practical knowledge
Relevant to farmers' local context
Accessible by design
Exploring low-tech digital channels
Stronger together
Connecting the agricultural ecosystem
OUR PURPOSE · PROJECT OVERVIEW
Good knowledge should be within everyone's reach.
Smallholder farmers need advice they can understand, trust and use on their own farms. But information can be difficult to access, hard to verify or poorly matched to local conditions.
AgriFarm explores the idea of a neutral knowledge platform — one that connects farmers' real-world experience with agricultural expertise instead of prioritizing product sales.
Our guiding question: How could we make agricultural knowledge more reliable, accessible and useful for Uganda's smallholder farmers?
Farmers first
Design around farmers' real needs, crops and local conditions.
Trust matters
Explore expert review, transparent sources and feedback.
Inclusive access
Look beyond smartphones to simple mobile phones.
Shared value
Connect local experience, research and community support.
DELIVERABLE 01 / 04
Ecosystem Orchestration ArchitectureStakeholder roles, GIVE / GET exchanges and communication possibilities
DELIVERABLE 01 · ECOSYSTEM ORCHESTRATION
One platform. A connected agricultural ecosystem.
AgriFarm is conceived as a neutral orchestrator — connecting those who grow, research, communicate, support and provide useful information. Value flows in both directions.
6
Stakeholder groupsPlus AgriFarm as ecosystem orchestrator
THE AGRIFARM ECOSYSTEM
Better knowledge flows both ways.
Six stakeholder groups connect through AgriFarm. Each arrow shows what a partner contributes and receives in return.
Knowledge Partners
GIVES TO AGRIFARM
Localized research · & verified content
GETS FROM AGRIFARM
Platform reach & · adoption insights
Local NGOs & Extension
GIVES TO AGRIFARM
Farmer trust & · field onboarding
GETS FROM AGRIFARM
Digital tools & · member success
Tech & Telco Providers
GIVES TO AGRIFARM
USSD gateways & · server hosting
GETS FROM AGRIFARM
Network traffic & · CSR value
Data Providers
GIVES TO AGRIFARM
Live APIs & · weather data
GETS FROM AGRIFARM
API licensing & · digital distribution
Impact Funds & Sponsors
GIVES TO AGRIFARM
Seed funding & · operational grants
GETS FROM AGRIFARM
ESG reporting & · verified impact
✦
Content & communicationWays knowledge could reach and connect farming communities
Inspiration & best practicesAgronomic knowledge & dataUSSD menus & voice messagesSMS weather & price alertsMobile video learningFarmer relationsUsage & feedback logsNGO & cooperative networking
01Ecosystem stakeholder
Farmers & Cooperatives
Farmers share knowledge and questions from their own fields.
GIVE → AGRIFARM
Field experience, platform feedback, usage data
← GET FROM ECOSYSTEM
Crop guidance, market information and practical tips
02Ecosystem stakeholder
Knowledge Partners
Researchers and agronomists support credible, contextualized advice.
GIVE → AGRIFARM
Localized research, validated learning content
← GET FROM ECOSYSTEM
Field insights, outreach and feedback on content
03Ecosystem stakeholder
Tech & Telco Providers
Possible partners for accessible learning across basic and smart phones.
GIVE → AGRIFARM
SMS/USSD gateways, hosting and connectivity
← GET FROM ECOSYSTEM
Potential rural services and social-impact collaboration
CENTRAL ORCHESTRATOR · CONCEPT
AgriFarm
Independent knowledge-sharing · Partner coordination · Community feedback · Accessible communication
04Ecosystem stakeholder
Local NGOs & Extension
Trusted local organizations help reach and understand communities.
GIVE → AGRIFARM
Local trust, outreach, workshops and onboarding
← GET FROM ECOSYSTEM
Digital learning tools and feedback from members
05Ecosystem stakeholder
Impact Funds & Sponsors
Potential support for testing affordability and future pilot development.
GIVE → AGRIFARM
Potential seed funding, grants and sponsored resources
← GET FROM ECOSYSTEM
Evidence from a future pilot and transparent impact reporting
06Ecosystem stakeholder
Data Providers
Weather and market-intelligence partners could improve locally relevant advice.
GIVE → AGRIFARM
Weather and market-data feeds or API access
← GET FROM ECOSYSTEM
Possible distribution partnerships and API licensing
CONTENT & COMMUNICATION LAYER
Turning information into practical learning
The blueprint proposes translating input from all partners into formats that farmers can actually use.
Conceptual ecosystem mapping based on the project presentation. Channels, data partnerships, licensing and outcomes are proposals, not operational services.
D1 · CONTENT & ACCESS CHANNELS
Farming information, on the phones people already have.
Different communities have different levels of connectivity. Our concept explores multiple ways to receive clear guidance and ask questions — subject to testing with local farmers and partners.
9:41●●● ◖
AgriFarm
Example SMS concept
NEW MESSAGE · EXAMPLE
Hello! What would you like to learn today?
1 Planting advice
2 Crop care
3 Weather information
Reply with 1, 2 or 3
Illustrative interface — not a working service.
Designed around accessibility, not assumptions.
DELIVERABLE 02 / 04
Interaction & Activation ArchitecturePriorities, 5A phases, two-way interactions and network effects
DELIVERABLE 02 · STAKEHOLDER PRIORITIZATION
Real impact takes a connected community.
AgriFarm's proposed role is to orchestrate a network where farmers' insights and trusted agricultural knowledge strengthen one another.
ORIGINAL CHAPTER · 01 / 03
Stakeholder prioritization
Five stakeholders most important for launching and activating the proposed AgriFarm concept. The ranking and 5A phases follow the submitted PowerPoint.
STARTING POINT Farmers and Knowledge Partners must first become aware of AgriFarm and understand its value.
Priority 01 · Main users
Smallholder Farmers
Primary users, contributors and advocates. Their needs and experiences should shape the service from the very beginning.
They contribute: farming experiences, feedback, usage data and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
They could gain: relevant expert advice, practical learning and better-informed decisions.
Why they matter: without awareness and adoption, network effects remain weak.
D2 · ACTIVATION ARCHITECTURE · THE 5A JOURNEY
From first contact to shared advocacy.
Our five-stage stakeholder journey helps us think through awareness, trust, participation and the potential for community-led growth.
CHAPTER 02 / 03
Stakeholder Journey Map
From awareness to active participation and advocacy. Explore the five stages for every prioritized stakeholder.
On smaller screens, swipe sideways to read all five stages.
Our starting point: Farmers and Knowledge Partners must first become aware of AgriFarm and understand its value.
D2 · STRONGEST ECOSYSTEM INTERACTIONS
Value grows both ways.
The strongest ecosystem connections start with the exchange between smallholder farmers and knowledge partners. The other relationships make community reach, quality and access possible.
ORIGINAL CHAPTER · 03 / 03
Strongest ecosystem interactions
These exchanges generate value in both directions and connect the core users to local outreach, technical access and future financing.
CORE INTERACTION Farmers ↔ Knowledge Partners: practical insights and research-based advice reinforce each other.
01
Core relationship
Farmers Knowledge Partners
Farmers → Knowledge Partners
Local farming questions, field observations and feedback.
Knowledge Partners → Farmers
Research-based guidance, training and clarification of information.
02
Community connection
Farmers NGOs & Extension
Farmers → NGOs & Extension
Community needs and practical experience that inform outreach.
NGOs & Extension → Farmers
Local training, facilitation and support for building trust.
03
Access partnership
AgriFarm Tech Providers
AgriFarm → Tech Providers
User needs and requirements for accessible communication.
Tech Providers → AgriFarm
Potential SMS/USSD delivery options and technical infrastructure.
04
Future funding
AgriFarm Impact Funds & Sponsors
AgriFarm → Impact Funds & Sponsors
Future pilot learning and possible evidence of value.
Impact Funds & Sponsors → AgriFarm
Potential funding for testing, operations and responsible scale-up.
05
Knowledge in the field
Knowledge Partners NGOs & Extension
Knowledge Partners → NGOs & Extension
Reviewed learning materials and content for community training.
NGOs & Extension → Knowledge Partners
On-the-ground feedback to help make guidance locally relevant.
Core exchange: farmers' field experience makes advice more relevant; evidence-based guidance supports more informed farming decisions.
D2 · NETWORK EFFECTS & SPILLOVERS
When knowledge moves both ways, everyone can learn.
AgriFarm's core hypothesis is a reinforcing loop between farmer participation and relevant, trustworthy advice. The loop still needs to be tested in practice.
01 · PARTICIPATION
More farmers
More people sharing questions and real field experiences.
02 · LEARNING
More local insights
Feedback helps knowledge partners identify real needs.
03 · RELEVANCE
Better guidance
Experts could refine content and make it more practical.
04 · VALUE
Stronger reasons to join
Useful advice could encourage adoption and referrals.
DIRECT EFFECTS · IMMEDIATE VALUE
Learning between participants
- More Farmers → Knowledge Partners
Field observations and feedback can sharpen research questions. - Knowledge Partners → Farmers
Adapted, reviewed advice could make agricultural knowledge more actionable. - NGOs → Farmers
Local workshops can support discovery, confidence and learning.
INDIRECT EFFECTS · SPILLOVER VALUE
Benefits beyond the first exchange
- Knowledge → Farmers → Local markets
Better practices could support more consistent production and supply. - Farmers → AgriFarm → Sponsors
Future usage evidence could inform decisions about additional support. - NGOs → Farmers → Knowledge Partners
Onboarding could produce new questions that improve learning content.
Potential advocacy channelsFarmer referrals · NGO workshops · Expert networks & LinkedIn
Farmers ↔ Knowledge Partners: the core two-way interactionIllustrative cause-and-effect hypothesis · Not yet empirically validated
DELIVERABLE 03 / 04
LiveTalk & Governance ReflectionCore messages, seeded questions, dialogue and reflection
DELIVERABLE 03 · LIVETALK & GOVERNANCE
How can farmers get advice they can trust?
A discussion format from our university project: four roles explore the need for reliable information, how knowledge can flow through a community, and what a stronger network could make possible.
EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION3 core messages
MODERATORThomas
FARMERFlorian
KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSamuel
TECH PROVIDERStefan
SEEDED QUESTIONS
Questions worth discussing
These prompts guide the LiveTalk and help test project assumptions instead of treating them as proven facts.
FARMER
What would help you trust farming advice?
KNOWLEDGE PARTNER
How can we check that agricultural advice is reliable?
TECH PROVIDER
How can we deliver advice in the easiest way?
Three perspectives
“I need advice that helps me on my farm. I want to know what to do and why.”
F
Farmer perspectiveDialogue
“Farmers know their own fields. Their ideas and experience can help us give better answers.”
K
Knowledge partner perspectiveDialogue
“Some people have smartphones. Others have simple phones. We need ways for both groups.”
T
Telecom perspectiveDialogue
DELIVERABLE 03 · REFLECTION ON GOVERNANCE
Four reflections. One knowledge gap.
Our team reflected on how the LiveTalk made farmer needs, knowledge quality and practical access visible. These are conclusions from our classroom format, not independently evaluated field outcomes.
Trust begins with dialogue
Giving each stakeholder an authentic role helps surface knowledge gaps without turning the discussion into a marketing pitch.
Transparency · Farmer questionsDifferent roles solve different needs
Farmers describe the problems; knowledge partners check agronomic guidance; technology providers explore how to reach remote communities.
Farmer · Expert · ProviderLearning goes both ways
Collaboration enables questions and local experience to move toward experts, while reviewed advice can move back into communities.
Collaboration · LearningMake farmer needs visible
Open dialogue can reduce information asymmetry: farmers state what matters, and responsibilities for answering, reviewing and improving content become clearer.
Listening · Shared responsibilityGovernance takeawayStart with real needs, involve the right stakeholders, and validate whether collaboration actually creates trustworthy, accessible advice before scaling.
DELIVERABLE 04 / 04
Co-Creation & Innovation BlueprintStakeholder contributions, value created, award criteria and excellence stories
DELIVERABLE 04 · CO-CREATION & INNOVATION
Hall of Excellence.
How is value created together?
Our co-creation blueprint connects stakeholder contributions with value creation, recognition criteria and excellence stories. The recognition program remains an academic concept, not an active award scheme.
Hall of Excellence
Recognising the people who help AgriFarm grow.
The Hall of Excellence recognizes contributions across the ecosystem — from farmers sharing knowledge to partners strengthening trust, inclusion and lasting impact.
Hall of
Excellence
Excellence
AgriFarm concept
Excellence stories
Illustrative stories celebrating farmers and knowledge partners, redesigned in the AgriFarm green and ivory palette.
Stakeholder Contributions & Recognition Criteria
How each stakeholder contributes, what value could be created, and which achievements a future Hall of Excellence might recognize.
| Stakeholder | Contribution | Value created | Recognition criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallholder FarmersPrimary users and community contributors | Share farming experiences with other farmers, provide feedback to AgriFarm and contribute peer-to-peer knowledge within the community. | Community growth, stronger network effects and trust-building across the learning ecosystem. | Community Champion AwardRecognize outstanding community engagement, practical tip sharing and at least five successful referrals. |
| Knowledge PartnersExperts, researchers and educational content providers | Provide expert advice and training materials while checking whether community-provided information is valid and reliable. | Credibility, trustworthy content and stronger evidence-based learning resources. | Excellence in Agricultural Knowledge AwardRecognize high usage of contributed learning modules and especially impactful validated advice or tips. |
| Tech & Telecom ProvidersTechnical access and infrastructure enablers | Provide SMS/USSD infrastructure, mobile connectivity and technical support for inclusive access. | Widespread platform access, digital inclusion and higher network utilization. | Digital Inclusion Pioneer AwardRecognize the strongest rural reliability and especially effective network coverage for accessible services. |
| NGOs & Development OrganizationsLocal outreach and trust-building partners | Contribute local network structures, farmer outreach, field training and trust-building activities. | Local acceptance, stronger trust in AgriFarm and broader awareness in farming communities. | Field Activation Excellence AwardRecognize strong community engagement, active farmer outreach and successful onboarding support. |
| Impact Funds & SponsorsFinancial and strategic enablers | Provide pilot funding, financial resources, sponsored learning modules and support for tools or materials. | Financial stability, broader strategic reach and support for sponsored learning opportunities. | Impact AwardRecognize meaningful support for sponsored tools or modules and strong adoption of funded learning offers. |
| Orchestrator (AgriFarm)Platform coordinator and ecosystem connector | Coordinate the ecosystem, manage partnerships and translate complex information into accessible formats such as USSD. | Ecosystem growth, active stakeholder participation, platform innovation and exchange between stakeholders. | Ecosystem Leadership AwardRecognize successful partner activation, transparent governance and visible contribution to overall ecosystem performance. |
This is an illustrative recognition framework from the team’s presentation. Thresholds, reach, adoption and impact must be assessed before awards could be granted.
Featured award concept
Sustainable Farming
Champion
For smallholder farmers who share useful local knowledge, encourage peer-to-peer learning and demonstrate thoughtful, resource-conscious farming practices.
Knowledge · Community · Sustainability
AWARD 01
Community Champion Award
Recognizing at least five successful referrals, practical tips and outstanding community participation — if a future pilot validates these criteria.
Smallholder FarmersAWARD 02
Excellence in Agricultural Knowledge
Highlighting credible, locally adapted guidance — including practical knowledge on climate resilience and sustainable practices.
Knowledge PartnersAWARD 03
Digital Inclusion Pioneer
Recognizing solutions that could make trustworthy learning accessible through basic phones and reliable rural connectivity.
Tech & Telecom ProvidersAWARD 04
Field Activation Excellence
Celebrating meaningful local outreach, farmer training and confidence-building with communities.
NGOs & Development OrganizationsAWARD 05
Impact Award
Recognizing future sponsors whose tools and sponsored learning modules could achieve meaningful adoption and measurable community value.
Impact Funds & SponsorsAWARD 06
Ecosystem Leadership Award
Recognizing successful partner activation, transparent governance and demonstrable ecosystem-level improvements.
Ecosystem OrchestratorHow recognition could workA framework to explore with stakeholders
1Contribute useful knowledge or community support.
2Validate achievements using fair, transparent criteria.
3Celebrate proven learning and sustainable impact.
Concept only: award categories and possible criteria come from our ecosystem blueprint. No awards have been granted or independently evaluated.
RESEARCH FOUNDATION · SUPPORTING WORK
Listening first. Designing with evidence.
We are students at MCI Innsbruck exploring how agricultural knowledge-sharing works in Uganda, which needs matter most and who would need to collaborate to support a future service.
Our semi-structured interview guide is designed for NGO staff, extension workers, researchers and local experts. It covers practical challenges, current services, stakeholders and feedback on the concept.
✓
Learn from local knowledgeUnderstand existing approaches before suggesting alternatives.
✓
Test assumptionsExplore usability, technical feasibility, quality control and costs.
✓
Respect research ethicsSeek informed consent and distinguish evidence from hypotheses.
AgriFarm · Research roadmapConcept stage
01
Understand
Interview relevant experts, identify farmer needs, map available services and barriers.
02
Prepare
Prioritize stakeholders and define what a context-sensitive pilot would need.
03
Explore feasibility
Review partner responsibilities, information quality, access options, costs and privacy.
04
Future possibility
A small pilot could be considered later by implementing partners; it is not part of this university course.
Applied Research Skills · MCI Innsbruck, Austria · 2026
Open validation questions
The internal ecosystem review highlights three gaps: clear advice quality assurance, measurable advocacy targets, and real-world evidence for the proposed participation loop.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
A clear concept starts with honest answers.
What AgriFarm is, what we are exploring and what is still open.
Is AgriFarm already available to farmers?
No. AgriFarm is currently a university research and concept project. The SMS, USSD, voice and app interfaces shown here are proposed possibilities, not operational services.
What makes AgriFarm different?
The concept focuses on neutral knowledge-sharing and connecting farmers, researchers, technology partners and local organizations. It does not aim to sell agricultural products directly.
Who would check the agricultural advice?
Knowledge Partners are proposed as important contributors to content preparation and review. Validation procedures, governance and responsibility for corrections would need to be defined with real partners before any launch.
Has AgriFarm already awarded any Hall of Excellence prizes?
No. The Hall of Excellence is an illustrative recognition concept for future consideration. Award categories, eligibility and verification standards would need input from farmers and potential partners.
Would AgriFarm be free to use?
That has not been determined. Messaging costs, connectivity, operating expenses and potential sponsor support would need to be assessed and explained transparently before any real-world service is offered.
Let's make agricultural knowledge more connected.
Discover the research behind our AgriFarm Uganda concept and the community it could bring together.