Category
indigenous-innovation
278 entries tagged indigenous-innovation.
Articles — 273
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Spanning Boundaries and Transforming Roles: Broadening Extension's Reach With OSU Open Campus and Juntos
Documents Oregon State University's Open Campus and Juntos pilot — placing 'boundary-spanning' Extension agents in rural communities to bridge cultural, institutional, and content-area silos, expanding access to higher education and broadband for Latinx and rural families.
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Indigenous Cultural Heritage Policies & Local Planning — A Case Study in the Land of Plenty
Master of Resource Management project examining how Indigenous cultural heritage policies intersect with local planning practice, using a place-based case study to surface implementation gaps and possibilities.
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Local institutions and indigenous knowledge in adoption and scaling of climate-smart agricultural innovations among sub-Saharan smallholder farmers
Local institutions and indigenous knowledge systems significantly improve how smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa adopt and scale climate-smart agricultural innovations. Development programs succeed when they build on existing indigenous practices rather than replace them, enhance information sharing, mobilize local resources, strengthen stakeholder networks, and develop farmer capacity. Participatory approaches that treat rural communities as active partners in designing adaptation programs produce better scaling outcomes.
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Innovations on a shoestring: a study of a collaborative community-based Aboriginal mental health service model in rural Canada
A mental health team in northern Ontario developed an innovative collaborative model integrating clinical approaches with traditional Aboriginal healing. Despite severe resource constraints, the Knaw Chi Ge Win service improved care quality and cultural safety for Aboriginal clients. The model succeeded through shared information systems, protocols, and ongoing education. Challenges remain around chronic underfunding and limited understanding of traditional healing outcomes. This approach offers a replicable model for other rural Indigenous mental health systems.
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The role of agricultural innovation on Pacific Islands: a case study from Hawai'i Island
Between 1400 and 1650, Hawaiian farmers developed terraced fields, irrigation systems, and windbreaks that opened 60 percent of available farmland. These innovations enabled agriculture in marginal areas, increased food surplus, and supported population growth and elite competition. The expanded agricultural base allowed societies to support non-producers across larger territories, driving the transition to surplus-driven economies.
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Understanding Indigenous Innovation in Rural West Africa: Challenges to Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Current Social Innovation Practice
Development agencies implementing social innovation in West Africa often impose external processes that disrespect indigenous creativity and ignore existing local innovation. The author documents a functioning innovation system among Hausa villagers in Niger that operates independently of development intervention, challenging diffusion of innovations theory. Supporting indigenous innovation processes proves more effective than initiating externally-designed change.
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Social entrepreneurship and innovation: Self-organization in an indigenous context
This paper examines social entrepreneurship in Māori communities through complexity theory and self-organization. Innovation emerges from interaction between young opportunity-seeking entrepreneurs (potiki) and elder statespeople (rangatira) within tribal structures. The research shows that tradition and cultural heritage enable innovation pathways, while entrepreneurial risk-takers advance along those paths. Historical and cultural context fundamentally shapes how social and economic entrepreneurship develop.
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Technology transfer, indigenous innovation and leapfrogging in green technology: the solar-PV industry in China and India
China and India have rapidly advanced their solar photovoltaic industries by combining technology transfer with indigenous innovation. Both countries strategically mixed different mechanisms for acquiring, adapting, and developing solar technology. Their national innovation systems proved essential for sustaining progress. The paper shows developing countries can follow this mixed approach to catch up in green industries and build competitive green economies without replicating developed nations' paths.
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Managing indigenous knowledge for sustainable agricultural development in developing countries: Knowledge management approaches in the social context
Indigenous knowledge about agriculture in Tanzania is shared through weak, informal networks, causing significant knowledge loss. The study found that gender, location, culture, trust, and ICT access shape how farmers acquire and share agricultural knowledge. Knowledge management approaches can integrate indigenous knowledge with other systems while accounting for these differences, supporting sustainable agricultural development in developing countries.
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Indigenous Innovation and Economic Development: Lessons from China's Leap into the Information Age
This paper examines indigenous innovation in China's computer electronics industry through case studies of four leading companies—Stone, Legend, Great Wall, and Founder—from their origins through the late 1990s. The analysis applies a framework emphasizing strategic control, organizational integration, and financial commitment as critical factors driving innovation. The findings illuminate how Chinese firms developed indigenous technological capabilities and their implications for understanding innovation dynamics and economic development.
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Innovation in Management Plans for Community Conserved Areas: Experiences from Australian Indigenous Protected Areas
Australian Indigenous Protected Areas demonstrate innovative management approaches that integrate traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary conservation practices. These community-conserved areas develop adaptive management plans that balance environmental protection with Indigenous land rights and economic development. The study documents how Indigenous communities innovate in governance structures and planning processes to achieve conservation outcomes while maintaining cultural and livelihood benefits.
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Chefs as change-makers from the kitchen: indigenous knowledge and traditional food as sustainability innovations
Kitchens and chefs drive food system transformation by leveraging traditional knowledge of local food species to create nutritious, delicious dishes. The paper identifies cooks as key innovators addressing food security and sustainability challenges. By connecting indigenous food knowledge to contemporary culinary practice, chefs help build more equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems.
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From Sink to Source: The Honey Bee Network Documents Indigenous Knowledge and Innovations in India
The Honey Bee Network documents indigenous innovations and traditional knowledge developed by tribal communities and local people across India's biodiverse regions. Communities in remote, economically disadvantaged areas have created effective agricultural techniques and identified medicinal plants by adapting to harsh environmental conditions. These innovations remain largely unrecognized globally, despite their practical value for subsistence and local development.
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Grassroots Innovation Using Drones for Indigenous Mapping and Monitoring
Indigenous communities in Peru, Guyana, and Panama are adopting drone technology for territorial mapping and monitoring to defend their lands against illegal resource extraction and environmental degradation. Five implemented projects demonstrate that drones enable indigenous peoples to document environmental damage, strengthen territorial claims, and pursue environmental justice. The technology shows promise as a grassroots innovation tool that supports both indigenous rights protection and sustainable land management.
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Caring for country and sustainable Indigenous development: Opportunities, constraints and innovation
Indigenous community-based natural resource management in northern Australia generates both conservation and economic benefits. When Indigenous people actively manage their land, they achieve favorable fire regimes, control weeds, and harvest wildlife while producing income through arts, crafts, and commercial enterprises. The paper argues that removing barriers to Indigenous participation in these activities and providing equitable public support creates sustainable economic development that reduces Indigenous disadvantage while protecting biodiversity.
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Indigenous Welfare and Community-Based Social Development: Lessons from African Innovations
Indigenous community-based welfare practices in Southern Africa have long supported social well-being but remain underrecognized. The paper examines three examples where traditional cooperative practices integrate with formal social development programs, demonstrating how these innovations strengthen communities. The authors argue that other countries should adopt similar approaches to combine indigenous knowledge with formal development initiatives.
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Indigenous in the city: contemporary identities and cultural innovation
This edited collection examines how Indigenous peoples in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand construct and maintain cultural identities while living in urban environments. The chapters document Indigenous urbanization patterns, community formation, legal recognition, place-making practices, and cultural innovation in cities. The work shows how Indigenous communities adapt traditional identities to contemporary urban contexts through institutions, social networks, and cultural practices like powwows.
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Climate change and small-scale agriculture in Africa: Does indigenous knowledge matter? Insights from Kenya and South Africa
Small-scale farmers in Kenya and South Africa use indigenous knowledge to predict weather, manage rainfall, preserve seeds, and adapt farming practices to climate change impacts. The study of 115 respondents shows local communities deploy traditional methods effectively to cope with adverse environmental conditions. The authors argue that combining indigenous knowledge with modern science creates stronger agricultural strategies for African farmers facing climate change.
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Indigenous Knowledge and Developing Countries’ Innovation Systems: The Case of Namibia
Namibia's innovation system faces structural challenges in coordinating actors and resources. The paper argues that developing countries should integrate indigenous knowledge into their innovation systems through doing-using-interacting modes rather than formal institutional frameworks. This approach enables participatory development, strengthens local community resilience, and builds competitive advantage.
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Women empowerment through social innovation in indigenous social enterprises
A Zapotec indigenous social enterprise in Mexico empowers women through job stability, low-interest microcredits, and gender-equality policies. These mechanisms enable economic empowerment despite male-dominated cultural norms, allowing women to start micro-enterprises and participate in decision-making. The organization improves community wellbeing and shifts cultural attitudes toward greater equality.
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Knowledge management approaches in managing agricultural indigenous and exogenous knowledge in Tanzania
Western knowledge management models fail to address rural farming communities in developing countries. This study examined how Tanzanian farmers acquire and share both indigenous and exogenous agricultural knowledge. Indigenous knowledge spreads through small local networks, while exogenous knowledge reaches wider audiences via formal sources. Policies, legal frameworks, ICTs, and culture shape knowledge access. The researcher developed a new knowledge management model tailored to rural developing-world contexts.
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Indigenous agricultural knowledge: A neglected human based resource for sustainable crop protection and production
Indigenous agricultural practices in Ethiopia significantly improve crop production and reduce reliance on expensive chemical inputs. Farmers use traditional seed selection, pest management, and soil conservation methods adapted to local rainfall, soil, and crop conditions. Education level, marital status, and farming experience influence adoption of these practices. Documenting and scientifically validating indigenous knowledge could promote sustainable, organic farming and lower agriculture's environmental impact.
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The Resilience of Indigenous Knowledge in Small-scale African Agriculture: Key Drivers
Indigenous knowledge systems in northern Malawi drive agricultural innovation more effectively than modern scientific approaches for small-scale farmers. The study finds that household food security and soil fertility maintenance are the primary motivations shaping farming practices. Indigenous knowledge succeeds because it integrates deeply with local economic, social, and cultural contexts, whereas external development interventions have largely failed to take root.
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A Spiral of Innovation Framework for Social Entrepreneurship: Social Innovation at the Generational Divide in an Indigenous Context
This paper examines social innovation in indigenous Māori communities through a complex adaptive systems lens. It argues that innovation emerges from intergenerational collaboration between young opportunity-seeking entrepreneurs (potiki) and elder statespeople (rangatira), combining social and economic entrepreneurial activity. The authors propose a 'Spiral of Innovation' framework that integrates opportunity-seeking with cultural heritage, illustrated through the example of Māori Maps, positioning innovation as self-organization within specific cultural contexts.
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Mindfulness, indigenous knowledge, indigenous innovations and entrepreneurship
Mindfulness enables indigenous communities to develop and value their own knowledge systems, fostering indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship. The paper argues that when researchers and societies practice mindfulness—appreciating non-Western forms of knowledge—they recognize indigenous communities' accumulated experiences and accumulated knowledge as valuable resources for economic development and sustainability. This recognition facilitates indigenous-led business ventures and innovations rooted in local understanding.
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Organizational Learning, Internal Control Mechanisms, and Indigenous Innovation: The Evidence from China
This study examines how Chinese firms develop indigenous innovation through two types of organizational learning: acquisitive learning (acquiring external knowledge) and experimental learning (learning by doing). The research finds that experimental learning mediates the relationship between acquisitive learning and innovation. Internal control mechanisms—behavior control and output control—moderate these relationships differently, with behavior control hindering acquisitive learning but supporting experimental learning, while output control shows an inverted relationship with both learning types.
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Integrating meteorological and indigenous knowledge-based seasonal climate forecasts for the agricultural sector : lessons from participatory action research in sub-Saharan Africa
This paper examines how combining meteorological data with indigenous climate knowledge improves seasonal forecasts for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Through participatory action research, the authors demonstrate that integrating local knowledge systems with scientific forecasting creates more effective and culturally relevant climate predictions that farmers can use to make better agricultural decisions.
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Reducing vulnerability of rain‐fed agriculture to drought through indigenous knowledge systems in north‐eastern Ghana
Farmers in north-eastern Ghana reduce drought vulnerability in rain-fed agriculture by using indigenous knowledge systems. They plant multiple drought-resistant crop varieties, stagger planting across farms, apply organic manure, control soil erosion with grass strips and stone terracing, and adopt paddy farming for water conservation. The paper recommends integrating these indigenous practices into district development and climate adaptation planning.
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Perspectives on indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise
This paper examines indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation, and enterprise development. The authors explore how indigenous peoples create and sustain businesses while maintaining cultural values and practices. The work highlights the unique characteristics of indigenous-led ventures and their contributions to economic development within indigenous communities.
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Enhancing Sustainable Production and Genetic Resource Conservation of Bambara Groundnut: A Survey of Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge Systems
Bambara groundnut is underutilized in Africa despite high market value and potential for commercial production. Researchers surveyed indigenous farming practices in Ghana's Upper West region to document traditional knowledge about crop production and genetic resource conservation. The study found that local farmers possess valuable knowledge about variety selection, pest management, and germplasm conservation. The findings identify research and extension priorities for improving production while preserving locally adapted varieties.
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Organizational culture, organizational citizenship behavior, knowledge sharing and innovation: a study of indigenous people production organizations
This study examines how organizational culture, citizenship behavior, knowledge sharing, and innovation interact within Indigenous peoples' production organizations. Using data from 139 Indigenous workers, the research finds that organizational culture directly influences both citizenship behavior and innovation, while knowledge sharing alone does not drive innovation. Organizational citizenship behavior mediates the relationship between culture and knowledge sharing, suggesting these organizations motivate staff participation but need stronger mechanisms to translate that into innovation performance.
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China's pursuits of indigenous innovations in information technology developments: hopes, follies and uncertainties
China pursues indigenous innovation in information technology to reduce dependence on American dominance, mobilizing national resources to develop core hardware and software capabilities and lead in next-generation networks. However, domestic political-economic constraints and China's deep integration into global capitalist markets complicate these efforts, creating tensions between the state's technological sovereignty goals and the transnational nature of modern IT development.
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Understanding indigenous knowledge: Bridging the knowledge gap through a knowledge creation model for agricultural development
Indigenous knowledge management in Tanzania's agricultural sector can be strengthened using Nonaka's knowledge creation theory. The study found that local communities need structured knowledge-creating environments to capture, preserve, and share traditional agricultural knowledge while integrating it with new technologies and innovations. Adequate resources for documentation are essential before this knowledge disappears.
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“Indians Don't Make Maps”: Indigenous Cartographic Traditions and Innovations
Indigenous cartographers have developed distinct mapping traditions that challenge colonial knowledge systems and assert sovereignty over territory and land relationships. The paper documents historical and contemporary Indigenous cartographic innovations and argues that expanding cartographic training in Indigenous communities strengthens cultural documentation, tribal sovereignty, and restorative justice efforts.
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Indigenous Knowledge, Mapping, and GIS: A Diffusion of Innovation Perspective
Indigenous peoples are increasingly adopting GIS technology to map and communicate their traditional knowledge. Using a diffusion of innovation framework, this paper examines how Indigenous communities have adopted and implemented GIS based on published research and fieldwork. The authors identify gaps in current understanding and recommend future research directions to better support Indigenous peoples' use of high-technology mapping for preserving and sharing their knowledge systems.
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Indigenous-led responsible innovation: lessons from co-developed protocols to guide the use of drones to monitor a biocultural landscape in Kakadu National Park, Australia
Indigenous communities in Kakadu National Park, Australia co-developed protocols to responsibly introduce drone technology for monitoring their biocultural landscape. The protocols center Indigenous governance, ethical research relationships, and Indigenous-led innovation. They enable Indigenous cultural responsibilities for knowledge stewardship to guide and authorize how new technologies are designed and applied for adaptive management of Indigenous lands.
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Indigenous Technologies and Innovation in Nigeria: Opportunities for SMEs
Nigeria's indigenous technologies offer substantial opportunities for small and medium enterprises to drive local economic growth and compete globally. The study examined three major indigenous technology clusters in Nigeria and reviewed successful cases from other countries to identify structural and policy directions. The findings highlight the need for systematic mapping of indigenous knowledge and technology systems to unlock their economic potential.
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Building an innovation system and indigenous knowledge in Namibia
Namibia is building an innovation system with support from international development aid, but faces challenges implementing science-technology-innovation approaches due to limited analytical capacity. The study finds that indigenous knowledge and learning-by-doing modes create real advantages for local communities and enable positive change. However, innovations based on indigenous knowledge produce limited practical outcomes. Indigenous knowledge remains valuable for innovation policy by enabling community participation in establishing innovation systems.
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Emancipatory Indigenous social innovation: Shifting power through culture and technology
This paper examines how Indigenous Māori social innovators address social disparities through entrepreneurship and cultural approaches. Using a case study of a healthcare entrepreneur in New Zealand's Far North, the authors argue that meaningful social change requires power shifts rather than simply wielding power. They demonstrate how Indigenous social enterprise can overcome market and policy failures to serve underserved populations and transform healthcare provision.
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Indigenous and local knowledge on social-ecological changes is positively associated with livelihood resilience in a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Small-scale farmers in Chile's Chiloé Archipelago who possess greater knowledge about environmental and social changes show stronger livelihood resilience. The study surveyed 100 farmers using agrosilvopastoral systems and found a significant positive relationship between farmers' awareness of atmospheric, physical, biological, and human system changes and their ability to maintain resilient livelihoods across financial, human, social, physical, and natural capital assets.
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Challenges of Managing Indigenous Knowledge with other Knowledge Systems for Agricultural Growth in sub-Saharan Africa
Tanzanian smallholder farmers struggle to manage indigenous agricultural knowledge and access external information due to personal, social, and environmental barriers including weak infrastructure, poor extension service linkages, and ICT adoption challenges. The study recommends governments improve rural infrastructure and extension services, knowledge providers foster knowledge-sharing cultures, and farmers receive training to document and disseminate knowledge through participatory approaches that integrate indigenous and external systems.
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Advancing biodegradation of petroleum contaminants by indigenous microbial consortia through assembly strategy innovations
Researchers developed a novel strategy for assembling stable microbial consortia that degrade petroleum contaminants more effectively than single strains. Using ecological coexistence theory and trait-based methods, they created a five-strain consortium that achieved 31.54% higher degradation rates than single strains. Soil experiments confirmed the consortium successfully removed hydrocarbon contaminants from oil-contaminated soil, offering a practical approach for environmental remediation.
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Sport development programmes for Indigenous Australians: innovation, inclusion and development, or a product of 'white guilt'?
This paper examines government-funded sport development programmes for Indigenous Australians, questioning whether they genuinely reduce health and educational disparities or simply reflect 'white guilt' and foster dependency. The authors analyze the tension between state provision and community independence, evaluating sport participation initiatives as either counterproductive welfare or legitimate investments in closing gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians across health, education, and employment outcomes.
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Islands of Indigenous innovation: reclaiming and reconceptualising innovation within, against and beyond colonial‐capitalism
This paper challenges the dominant capitalist definition of innovation by examining Indigenous innovation through a critical lens. Using case studies from Te Moana-nui-a-kiwa (the Pacific), the authors demonstrate that Indigenous communities practice innovation outside and against colonial-capitalism, focused on collective wellbeing rather than profit. The paper reclaims innovation as central to Indigeneity and expands its meaning to include collective struggle and survival.
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Intellectual returnees as drivers of indigenous innovation: Evidence from the Chinese photovoltaic industry
Chinese photovoltaic firms with leaders who have international experience file significantly more patents than comparable firms without such leaders. The study analyzes patent records, industrial census data, and executive biographies to show that returnees boost innovation both within their own firms and at neighboring companies. Market liberalization and industry policy also influence patenting activity.
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Finding the context indigenous innovation in village enterprise knowledge structure: a topic modeling
Indigenous communities possess deep knowledge of environmental sustainability and natural resource use that drives rural economic growth. This study analyzed 1,440 research articles on village enterprises using topic modeling to map their knowledge structure. The analysis identified key topics including local ownership, land use, services, economy, microfinance, environmental management, and social entrepreneurship. Four natural resource-based sectors emerged: traditional food production, bio-energy, agriculture, and tourism. The resulting knowledge structure provides a foundation for evaluating village enterprises and guiding future research.
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Sustainability of indigenous folk tales, music and cultural heritage through innovation
This paper documents the creation of Bah Luj Production, an innovative resource package of folk tales, music, and cultural heritage from Malaysia's indigenous Semai people. The authors argue that cultural sustainability requires collaboration between culture bearers and researchers, combined with adaptability to contemporary consumer interests. The practice-led approach demonstrates that indigenous traditions survive when they remain flexible, relevant, and open to innovation rather than preserved in static form.
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Sustainability of rural electrification programs based on off-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems in Chile
Chile's off-grid photovoltaic programs for rural electrification face significant sustainability challenges across institutional, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural dimensions. Despite Chile's solar potential and successful pilot projects, deployment lags due to poor technology choices, inadequate system reliability, and lack of maintenance standards. Indigenous communities remain underserved because the government's approach requires communities to request electrification first, disadvantaging the poorest populations. The paper calls for improved cultural justice, equity, and environmental awareness to ensure sustainable rural electrification.
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Supporting Self-Determined Indigenous Innovations: Rethinking the Digital Divide in Canada
This paper challenges the Western narrative about Indigenous peoples and technology adoption, examining how Indigenous communities in Canada engage with digital innovation on their own terms. Rather than viewing Indigenous peoples as resistant to technology, the authors argue for recognizing self-determined Indigenous innovations and rethinking how the digital divide is conceptualized in ways that respect Indigenous autonomy and knowledge systems.
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Rural Solar Cookers, an Alternative to Reduce the Timber Resource Extraction through the Use of Renewable Energy Sources: Technology Transfer and Monitoring Project
Researchers designed and distributed 70 solar cookers to an indigenous community in Michoacán, Mexico, to replace wood-burning cooking methods. The parabolic concentrator cookers use polished aluminum reflectors and manual tracking. The project aims to cut timber consumption by 30%, reduce respiratory disease from smoke inhalation, improve household economics, and promote renewable energy adoption. Monitoring is underway to measure actual consumption reductions.
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Innovation to prevent sudden infant death: the wahakura as an Indigenous vision for a safe sleep environment
Māori communities in New Zealand developed the wahakura, a flax bassinet designed to prevent sudden infant death while respecting cultural practices like bedsharing. Research demonstrated its safety and acceptability. Distribution of wahakura and related safe sleep devices through health boards, combined with culturally appropriate education, contributed to a 29% drop in infant mortality between 2009-2015, with the largest gains among Māori infants, showing how indigenous knowledge and community engagement reduce health inequities.
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Indigenous versus foreign innovation and ecological footprint: Dynamic threshold effect of corruption
Indigenous and foreign innovation affect ecological footprint differently across developed and developing countries. In developed nations, both types of innovation reduce environmental impact, but this benefit reverses when corruption rises above a threshold. In developing countries, innovation increases ecological footprint, with corruption further worsening this effect. Economic growth and urbanization drive higher footprints globally.
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Building on the strengths of African indigenous knowledge and innovation (AIK&I) for sustainable development in Africa
African indigenous knowledge and innovation practices offer proven solutions for sustainable development across the continent, yet remain underutilized in policy frameworks like the SDGs. This paper documents successful AIK&I applications in resource management and conservation across African economies, demonstrating their capacity to address development challenges. The authors argue for integrating indigenous perspectives into sustainability agendas and call for research on making these practices more scientific and widely adopted.
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The Indigenous primary health care and policy research network: Guiding innovation within primary health care with Indigenous peoples in Alberta
Alberta stakeholders convened in 2019 to address fragmented health initiatives following Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls for reform. They established the Indigenous Primary Health Care and Policy Research Network to coordinate efforts across the province. The network aims to transform primary health care delivery and achieve health equity for Indigenous peoples by aligning initiatives with reconciliation principles and implementing the Commission's health-related recommendations.
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When cosmology meets property: indigenous people’s innovation and intellectual property
Indigenous innovation systems in Australia operate within a cosmological framework where innovation maintains the health of interconnected systems. The paper argues that commodity-based intellectual property systems poorly fit indigenous innovation needs. Land property rights matter far more than patents. Distinguishing-based intellectual property forms and voluntary certification systems offer better tools for indigenous businesses than traditional patent regimes.
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Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare
This paper describes how developmental evaluation enhanced an innovation platform designed to improve primary healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. The platform brought together diverse stakeholders to address complex health challenges through collaborative decision-making and quality improvement. Developmental evaluation provided real-time feedback that guided continuous adaptation of the platform's formation and functioning, proving well-suited to evaluating complex multi-stakeholder networks.
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The Decolonized Quadruple Bottom Line: A Framework for Developing Indigenous Innovation
This paper proposes a decolonized quadruple bottom line framework for indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship. Rather than the standard triple bottom line (people, planet, profit), the authors add spirituality and culture as essential factors. The framework combines community, spirituality, sustainability, and entrepreneurship to create indigenous innovation that supports sustainable economic development for American Indian nations and communities.
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Documenting and Disseminating Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Food Security: The Efforts of Agricultural Research Libraries in Nigeria
Agricultural research libraries in Nigeria document and disseminate indigenous farming knowledge to improve food security. The study surveyed librarians at agricultural research institutions to identify which traditional practices have been recorded and what obstacles prevent better documentation. Findings reveal gaps in capturing indigenous agricultural knowledge and offer recommendations for improving how libraries preserve and share these practices to strengthen food production.
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Enhancing innovation between scientific and indigenous knowledge: pioneer NGOs in India
Local communities in Tamil Nadu, India combine traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge through supportive networks to innovate health practices and environmental conservation. These networks create "ethnomedicine capacity"—the ability of local stakeholders to actively generate and share knowledge. Integration of local and scientific knowledge proves crucial for sustainable adoption. Networks enhance social capital and enable development, though unequal power relations risk transforming traditions into commodities controlled by new elites.
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Enabling Indigenous innovations to re-centre social licence to operate in the Blue Economy
The paper argues that sustainable Blue Economy development requires centering Indigenous perspectives on social licence to operate. It calls for shifting governance practices so Indigenous groups grant consent based on their own values at every project stage, not just initial approval. The authors propose collaborative arrangements and Indigenous-led platforms that respect historical, social, cultural, and economic contexts, enabling Indigenous peoples to participate equitably in ocean-based industries and business agreements.
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Indigenous knowledge and sustainable agricultural resources management under rainfed agro-ecosystem
Tribal farmers in Madhya Pradesh's rainfed regions have developed sophisticated agricultural systems adapted to harsh, risk-prone environments. These traditional practices—including crop diversity conservation, water management, and pest control—prove productive and sustainable without costly external inputs. The study documents Gond, Baiga, and Pradhan farming wisdom and urges agricultural researchers to systematically learn from and integrate these practices before they disappear.
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China's indigenous innovation approach: the emergence of Chinese innovation theory?
China is developing indigenous innovation capabilities to build an innovation-based economy, but existing research relies heavily on Western innovation theory. This paper proposes building a distinctly Chinese innovation theory rather than applying Western frameworks. The authors present a research agenda and seven papers that develop this Chinese-centric approach to understanding innovation in Chinese business and policy.
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Protecting and promoting indigenous knowledge: environmental adult education and organic agriculture
Environmental adult educators can promote sustainable living by recognizing organic farmers' knowledge as indigenous knowledge. The paper argues that organic agriculture's knowledge system—including its spiritual dimensions—fits better within UNESCO's indigenous knowledge framework than Habermasian theory, while maintaining capacity for critique and transformation. This approach helps adult education address food security and environmental sustainability by connecting farming practices to indigenous knowledge systems.
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Plugging in indigenous knowledge: Connections and innovations
Indigenous Australians participated vigorously in early World Wide Web development, creating high-quality sites that expressed diverse purposes and styles. The Web's properties—hypertext, multimedia, and collaborative features—encouraged Indigenous participation while reducing conventional media gatekeeping. Indigenous-run sites remained proportionally high, Indigenous publishing became significant on the Web landscape, and concerns about appropriation and misrepresentation proved unfounded.
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Weaving indigenous agricultural knowledge with formal education to enhance community food security: school competition as a pedagogical space in rural Anchetty, India
A school competition in rural Tamil Nadu, India successfully created a pedagogical space where indigenous agricultural knowledge about traditional small millets was integrated into formal education. Students, local farmers, and teachers collaborated through the competition, which strengthened community understanding of traditional farming practices and food security. Participants recognized the competition's potential to preserve indigenous knowledge while addressing local food security challenges.
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Social Ties and Indigenous Innovation in China's Transition Economy: The Moderating Effects of Learning Intent
This study examines how social network ties influence indigenous innovation in Chinese firms. The researchers analyzed 270 companies and found that business network ties show an inverted U-shaped relationship with all three innovation patterns (original, integrative, and re-innovation), while institutional ties affect them differently. Learning intent moderates these relationships, strengthening or weakening the effects of social ties on innovation outcomes.
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Innovation in Indigenous Health and Medical Education: The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network as a Community of Practice
The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Network operates across Australian and New Zealand medical schools to improve Indigenous health education and support Indigenous student recruitment and graduation. Using Wenger's communities of practice framework, the authors evaluate the Network's effectiveness and demonstrate how this theoretical lens helps measure its impact on curriculum implementation and student outcomes.
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Making the right to health a reality for Brazil's indigenous peoples: innovation, decentralization and equity
Brazil's public health system has expanded coverage and improved health indicators since 1988, but indigenous peoples remain marginalized with unequal access to services. The paper examines governance innovations and decentralization efforts designed to address these persistent inequities and extend universal health coverage to indigenous populations across Brazil's vast territory.
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Indigenous knowledge and its relevance for agriculture : a case study in Uganda
This study examines indigenous knowledge about cultivating traditional vegetables in rural Uganda using participatory research methods. The findings show that indigenous agricultural practices differ from conventional approaches, vary within communities, and extend beyond technical knowledge. Comparing results with similar African studies, the authors conclude that understanding and integrating indigenous knowledge into agricultural research and extension programs would improve the effectiveness of future interventions.
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Indigenous African knowledge systems and innovation in higher education in South Africa
South African higher education must integrate indigenous African knowledge systems and innovations into curricula to achieve genuine development. The paper argues that innovation extends beyond formal university and industrial research settings. Incorporating indigenized African knowledge alongside conventional innovation frameworks strengthens the nation's ability to convert knowledge into wealth and social benefit.
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How to Decolonize Democracy: Indigenous Governance Innovation in Bolivia and Nunavut, Canada
Bolivia and Nunavut, Canada have pioneered large-scale Indigenous governance experiments where marginalized Indigenous majorities gained democratic power. Bolivia integrated direct, participatory, and communitarian elements into its democratic system, significantly improving Indigenous representation. Nunavut's Inuit government incorporated Inuit values into Canada's governmental framework. Despite ongoing social and economic challenges, both cases achieved democratic gains by creating new participation mechanisms that expand liberal democracy beyond traditional conceptions.
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Recognizing Indigenous Knowledge on Agricultural Landscape in Bali for Micro Climate and Environment Control
Indigenous agricultural practices in Bali's terraced rice landscapes demonstrate sophisticated climate and environmental control mechanisms. The study reveals how traditional knowledge—particularly the Tri Hita Karana concept—integrates forest, temples, paddies, irrigation systems, and settlements to create sustainable landscapes on steep mountain slopes. The controlled irrigation system distributes water efficiently across impossible terrain, while the vertical landscape pattern protects against environmental degradation and strengthens adaptive capacity to climate change.
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MANAGING INDIGENOUS AND EXOGENOUS KNOWLEDGE THROUGH INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT OF THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN TANZANIA
This paper examines how information and communication technologies can integrate indigenous knowledge with external agricultural expertise to advance farming development in Tanzania. The authors argue that combining local farming practices with modern ICT tools helps achieve broader development goals, particularly in rural agricultural communities where traditional knowledge remains valuable alongside contemporary innovations.
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Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices in Climate-Sensitive Policies for Resilient Agricultural Systems in Ghana
Ghana's climate and agricultural policies inadequately incorporate indigenous and local knowledge systems, despite their proven effectiveness in adaptation. The study found that while climate adaptation is mentioned in national policies, indigenous knowledge receives minimal priority and faces barriers including lack of dedicated policy, weak government commitment, under-resourced institutions, and poor coordination. Mainstreaming indigenous knowledge into climate policy could strengthen agricultural resilience and rural development.
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Intersecting Knowledge With Landscape: Indigenous Agriculture, Sustainable Food Production and Response to Climate Change – A Case Study of Chuktia Bhunjia Tribe of Odisha, India
The Chuktia Bhunjia tribe in Odisha, India practices sustainable agriculture rooted in local ecology, beliefs, and rituals. Their methods—intercropping, agroforestry, crop rotation, and rainwater harvesting—maintain soil fertility, reduce greenhouse gases, and adapt to climate change while remaining cost-effective. The tribe's knowledge, culturally transmitted through ritual practice, supports both food security and ecosystem conservation. Displacement from a tiger conservation project threatens this integrated system.
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Effects of intellectual capital and university knowledge in indigenous innovation: evidence from Indian SMEs
Intellectual capital and university partnerships both strengthen indigenous innovation in Indian SMEs, with their combined effect exceeding individual contributions. Dysfunctional competition amplifies intellectual capital's impact on innovation, while environmental uncertainty weakens university knowledge's effect. Indigenous innovation directly improves business performance, with competitive intensity enhancing this relationship but uncertainty reducing it.
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The Strategic Role of Indigenous Innovation for Global Competition The Case Study of Mobile Phone and Telecom-Equipment Industry in China
Indigenous innovation strengthens technological capabilities and supports long-term firm growth. The authors develop a model linking globalization, market conditions, and technical factors to indigenous innovation. Analysis of China's mobile phone and telecom-equipment industries demonstrates how firms leverage indigenous innovation during economic transitions to compete globally.
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Indigenous women as entrepreneurs in global front line innovation systems
This paper examines entrepreneurship among Sámi indigenous women, analyzing their unique business practices and decision-making logics at micro and mezo levels. The research reveals how indigenous women operate as entrepreneurs within global innovation systems, highlighting entrepreneurial approaches that differ from mainstream models and demonstrating their role as innovators on the global front line.
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Framings in Indigenous futures thinking: barriers, opportunities, and innovations
Indigenous peoples bring distinctive perspectives to futures thinking—shaped by colonisation, unique knowledge systems, and commitment to biodiversity—that enable innovative solutions to climate change and social injustice. This paper identifies four framings of Indigenous futures thinking (Adaptation oriented, Participatory, Culturally grounded, and Indigenising) and finds that innovation increases when Indigenous people lead research teams, co-design projects, use Indigenous methodologies, and apply decolonisation approaches. The authors create a glossary to standardise terminology across this emerging field.
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A systematic PLS-SEM approach on assessment of indigenous knowledge in adapting to floods; A way forward to sustainable agriculture
Indigenous knowledge significantly influences how farmers adapt to floods and practice sustainable agriculture. The study identifies key factors affecting farmers' flood knowledge through statistical analysis, with age showing no relationship to this knowledge. The findings support policy recommendations for governments to develop integrated flood management strategies that protect farmers, ecosystems, and food systems while promoting sustainable agricultural development.
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Roadmapping 5.0 Technologies in Agriculture: A Technological Proposal for Developing the Coffee Plant Centered on Indigenous Producers’ Requirements from Mexico, via Knowledge Management
This study develops a technology roadmap for Mexican indigenous coffee producers to adopt Industry 5.0 technologies. Researchers analyzed needs across five Mexican localities and identified key practices—monitoring, soil analysis, organic fertilizer production, and experimentation—that should be supported by mobile apps, sensors, virtual platforms, greenhouses, and spectrophotometric tools. The proposal prioritizes producer requirements and local contexts to address pest-related production losses affecting global coffee economies.
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Descriptive analysis of building indigenous low-carbon innovation capability in Nigeria
Nigeria faces challenges transitioning to low-carbon energy systems while pursuing economic development. The paper argues that building indigenous innovation capability, rather than importing technology from developed countries, is essential for sustainable low-carbon energy. Using survey data from academics and the public, the study recommends government policy-driven models to overcome market failures and develop Nigeria's own low-carbon energy innovation capacity.
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Assembling indigeneity: Rethinking innovation, tradition and indigenous materiality in a 19th-century native toolkit
This paper analyzes iron tools from a 19th-century Nipmuc home site in Massachusetts to understand how Native woodsplint basketmaking emerged as a trade practice. The baskets were marketed as traditional and authentic to Anglo-American buyers, yet their forms, decorations, and tools were actually innovations developed in post-Revolutionary economic conditions. The author uses assemblage theory to show how Indigenous innovation and tradition coexist rather than conflict.
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Tracing the Paths to Sustainable Production and Consumption Through Indigenous Directors, Environmental Innovation, and Sustainability Committees
Indigenous directors significantly drive sustainable production and consumption in Latin American and Caribbean energy firms, with environmental innovation and sustainability committees amplifying this effect. Analysis of 378 firms from 2012–2023 shows indigenous leadership promotes sustainable practices across all performance levels, with stronger impacts at higher quantiles when environmental innovation and committees are present. Regional, policy, and industry factors create substantial variation in outcomes.
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Technology Innovation and Digital Journalism Practice by Indigenous African-language Newspapers: The Case of <i>uMthunywa</i> in Zimbabwe
This paper examines how uMthunywa, a Zimbabwean indigenous-language newspaper, adopted digital journalism practices after stopping print production in 2020. The study finds that technological innovation remained limited due to organizational barriers including technophobia, poor capitalization, and staff lacking digital skills. The newspaper selectively adopted new digital practices primarily for survival rather than comprehensive transformation.
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Integrating Local and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) Systems into Climate Adaptation Policy for Resilience Building, and Sustainability in Agriculture
Local and indigenous ecological knowledge systems help rural communities in southern Bangladesh adapt to climate change impacts on agriculture. The paper documents how these traditional adaptation strategies strengthen resilience and sustainability among poor farmers facing environmental pressures. The author argues policymakers must integrate indigenous knowledge into climate adaptation and development policies, especially in resource-scarce regions where communities depend on these proven strategies.
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Analysis of the causal effects of imports and foreign direct investments on indigenous innovation in developing countries
Imports and foreign direct investment drive domestic research and development spending in developing countries, with combined effects on innovation output and economic growth. The study of 20 middle-income countries from 1994 to 2018 shows that foreign technologies enhance indigenous innovation when countries absorb and apply them to produce novel products. Policy should encourage technology absorption to strengthen the innovation pipeline from R&D to commercial output.
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Entwining indigenous knowledge and science knowledge for sustainable agricultural extension: exploring the strengths and challenges
Indigenous knowledge offers significant potential for sustainable agriculture but remains largely excluded from extension programs. This study identifies barriers to integration including perceived value gaps, knowledge protocols, cultural constraints, and intellectual property concerns. However, combining indigenous knowledge with science strengthens sustainable practices. The findings suggest extension policies should better recognize and protect indigenous knowledge while addressing accessibility and property rights issues.
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Explaining the Diffusion of Renewable Electricity Technologies in Canadian Remote Indigenous Communities through the Technological Innovation System Approach
Remote Indigenous communities in Canada's Northwest Territories and Ontario face electricity challenges that renewable energy technologies could address. This study applies the Technological Innovation System framework to explain how renewable energy diffused in these communities from 2000 to 2016. The research identifies systemic failures blocking deployment and finds that policy interventions strengthening local learning and networking could accelerate renewable technology adoption, benefiting remote communities.
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Rural Women Subsistence Farmers, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agricultural Research in South Africa
Rural women farmers in South Africa rely on indigenous knowledge systems to sustain agriculture and livelihoods, yet agricultural research and policy systematically marginalize their contributions and exclude them from resource access. The study argues that policymakers and researchers must prioritize understanding how gender and indigenous knowledge shape agricultural sustainability, as current approaches undervalue women's expertise and limit their control over farming resources.
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Assessment of Indigenous Knowledge Practices for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria
Rural farmers in Nigeria's Idemili South region possess extensive indigenous knowledge for sustainable agriculture and food security, including practices like mulching, organic manure use, and traditional food preservation. The study identifies major barriers to wider adoption: lack of documentation, time demands, and poor recognition. Recommendations include using ICT infrastructure to document and share indigenous practices, and providing financial incentives to reduce farmers' implementation costs.
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Valuing Indigenous Knowledge in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea: A Model for Agricultural and Environmental Education
Current agricultural and environmental education in Papua New Guinea fails to engage indigenous farmers because it ignores indigenous knowledge systems that actually guide farming and resource management. This study examined two highland villages and found that as farmers adopt cash crops, they devalue traditional knowledge in favor of Western approaches. Trust, cultural differences, and social barriers prevent knowledge sharing. The authors recommend redesigning education programs to recognize and integrate indigenous knowledge.
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Informing Canadian Innovation Policy Through a Decolonizing Lens on Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Indigenous entrepreneurship remains invisible in Canadian policy despite its economic potential. This paper examines how government frames Indigenous entrepreneurial activities and argues such framing risks exploiting Indigenous lands and knowledge. Drawing on interviews with 13 Manitoba Indigenous entrepreneurs and an ecosystem approach, the author identifies three core concerns: land and community relationships, education relevance, and cultural survival. The paper calls for systemic decolonizing change in how Canadian government policy and higher education institutions approach Indigenous innovation.
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Integrating Indigenous with Scientific Knowledge for the Development of Sustainable Agriculture: Studies in Shaanxi Province
Smallholder farmers in Shaanxi Province hold indigenous agricultural knowledge that shapes their farming decisions, yet government and scientists typically ignore this expertise. This study surveyed and interviewed farmers about how they use and acquire both indigenous and scientific knowledge from government extension systems. The research demonstrates that farmers should be active participants in agricultural knowledge development, not passive recipients of top-down scientific advice.
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Funding Indigenous organisations: improving governance performance through innovations in public finance management in remote Australia
Government funding structures shape how Indigenous organisations perform in remote Australia. The research found that Australian funding systems impose performance indicators rather than negotiating them, rarely reward actual performance, and don't require organisations to answer to their communities. These design flaws waste resources and weaken accountability compared to international public finance management practices.
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The Constitution of the White Earth Nation: A New Innovation in a Longstanding Indigenous Literary Tradition
This essay examines the White Earth Nation Constitution as an innovation within indigenous literary traditions. The author traces how Gerald Vizenor and co-authors drew on centuries of indigenous constitutional literature—from the Popol Vuh through colonial petitions to contemporary fiction—to create a living text that uses irony and political critique. The constitution functions as a tool for imagining and inventing indigenous worlds through established literary and political methodologies.
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Indigenous people's perception of indigenous agricultural knowledge for climate change adaptation in Khumbu, Nepal
Indigenous farmers in Nepal's Khumbu region perceive their traditional agricultural knowledge as effective for adapting to climate change, including observed shifts in seasons, reduced snowfall, and increased rainfall. The study finds this knowledge remains dynamic and relevant despite climate pressures. However, government authorities do not formally recognize indigenous practices. The research recommends integrating indigenous knowledge into local climate policies to support both knowledge transmission across generations and cost-effective adaptation strategies.
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Social innovations in rural communities in Africa's Great Lakes region. A social work perspective
Rural communities in Africa's Great Lakes region face poverty, poor infrastructure, and weak services, yet develop innovative local solutions. This study examines two social innovations: Uganda's akabondo household clusters for rural development and Rwanda's umugoroba w'ababyeyi family strengthening program. The authors analyze whether these community-led approaches qualify as social innovations, identify key implementers, assess their impact on rural communities, and discuss challenges they face.
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Empowering rural women crafters in KwaZulu-Natal: The dynamics of intellectual property, traditional cultural expressions, innovation and social entrepreneurship
Rural women bead-makers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa use collaborative innovation and social entrepreneurship to achieve significant economic empowerment. Although the formal intellectual property system offers limited accessible protections for their traditional cultural expressions, inclusive innovation practices and social entrepreneurship models effectively empower these craftspeople and support their livelihoods.
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Teatro Povero di Monticchiello: Community-based Social Innovation and Intangible Heritage in Rural Tuscany
Teatro Povero di Monticchiello in rural Tuscany stages autodrama annually, blending community participation with cultural heritage. The paper shows how this fifty-year practice functions simultaneously as intangible heritage and social innovation, driven by place attachment, collective memory, and collaborative leadership. Local residents view autodrama as both cultural preservation and a vehicle for social change.
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AGROECOLOGICAL HOME GARDENS AS A STRATEGY FOR EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS: AN INTEGRATED PROPOSAL FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION AND SOCIAL INNOVATION IN RURAL MARANHÃO
Home agroecological gardens in rural Maranhão serve as spaces for sustainable production, environmental education, and income generation. The study proposes protecting traditional knowledge through a digital community platform that combines educational materials, biodata repositories, and legal safeguards. This approach strengthens food security, household income, women's participation, and youth engagement while supporting social and environmental sustainability in rural areas.
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Cultural and communicative pathways in grassroots science and innovation: field research learnings from under-resourced rural India
This study examines how grassroots innovation emerges in under-resourced rural India through culturally grounded science communication practices. Working with youth in underserved communities, the research shows that informal settings foster locally relevant solutions despite linguistic diversity, trust gaps, and infrastructure limits. The work rejects top-down expert models and advocates instead for community-centered, dialogic approaches that integrate Indigenous methodologies and position marginalized voices as sources of knowledge.
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The rural in democratic innovations: a comparative proposal between Latin America and Europe
Democratic innovations in rural Europe focus on development, environment, and local economics within existing political structures, emphasizing institutional strengthening and sustainability. Rural Latin America uses democratic innovations differently—as tools for emancipatory struggles including indigenous rights defense and food sovereignty. The paper argues these innovations challenge fundamental notions of development and rights in Latin America, whereas European innovations primarily improve public policies without questioning the political model.
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Community-driven food networks as vehicles of rural social innovation
Two community-driven food networks in rural Cape Breton, Canada—one Indigenous-led and one non-Indigenous—demonstrate how integrated programming combining food access, wellness, and employment initiatives builds social cohesion, local capacity, and community dignity. These networks function as rural social innovation infrastructure rather than charity, addressing food insecurity, isolation, and economic marginalization while fostering inclusion and resilience.
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GRASSROOTS INNOVATION AND RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN INDIA: A PATHWAY TO INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
Grassroots innovation and rural entrepreneurship address poverty and underemployment in India's rural economy by leveraging indigenous knowledge and local enterprise. The paper analyzes the conceptual foundations, policy environment, and practical outcomes of these approaches through literature review, statistics, and case studies. It demonstrates how grassroots innovation drives inclusive and sustainable growth, then recommends strengthening institutional frameworks to scale successful initiatives across diverse rural regions.
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Digital Engineering Integration of Non-Heritage Innovation to Promote Rural Revitalization——The Example of "Xiangyun Yarn"
This paper examines how digital engineering can revitalize the Xiangyun yarn craft, a Chinese intangible cultural heritage. The authors argue that combining traditional yarn-making knowledge with digital innovation creates new products that strengthen market competitiveness and cultural preservation. Digital tools help expand market reach, allowing broader appreciation of this traditional art form while supporting rural economic development and cultural continuity.
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Traditional ecological knowledge in innovation governance: a framework for responsible and just innovation
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is often eroded by Western innovation focused on economic growth and technological modernization. This paper argues that innovation governance must shift away from growth-oriented definitions toward frameworks emphasizing societal goals. The authors contend that responsible innovation approaches alone cannot address TEK integration without confronting underlying decolonization and social justice issues that shape how traditional communities experience and control change.
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Community-based broadband organizations and video communications for remote and rural First Nations in Canada
Two First Nations organizations in Canada use broadband video communications—including videoconferences and online videos—to support economic and social development in remote and rural communities. The research analyzes hundreds of archived videos and interviews with key users, situating these organizations within a broader movement toward First Nations self-determination.
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Agroecology and communal innovation: LabCampesino, a pedagogical experience from the rural youth in Sumapaz Colombia
Rural youth in Colombia's Sumapaz province participated in LabCampesino, a collaborative laboratory combining agroecology, co-creation, and community organization. Through exploration, experimentation, and prototyping sessions, young farmers built and documented innovations for territorial management and sustainable development. The initiative demonstrated that rural laboratories enable practical, situated education and communal innovation while strengthening agroecological practices and local social organization, offering an alternative to rural-to-urban migration.
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Knowledge and InnovatIon for agrIcultural development
Rural agricultural development requires linking indigenous knowledge with formal research and development. The paper argues that while rural communities innovate through local experimentation and adaptation, indigenous knowledge alone cannot address complex challenges like food price volatility, climate change, and biofuel demand. Sustainable agricultural development accelerates when formal and informal knowledge systems connect, enabling knowledge creation, sharing, and practical application across technologies, organizations, institutions, and policies.
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Opportunities and tensions in supporting intercultural productive activities: The case of urban and rural Mapuche entrepreneurship programs
Entrepreneurship programs in Chile targeting Mapuche people in rural and urban areas create both opportunities and tensions. Based on interviews with 17 Mapuche entrepreneurs, the study finds that programs support business development but reveal conflicts between mainstream business practices and Mapuche cultural values. Success depends on programs recognizing cultural identity and adapting to intercultural contexts rather than imposing standardized approaches.
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Social Media-Innovation: The Case of Indigenous Tweets
This paper develops a theoretical framework for social media innovation by analyzing Indigenous Tweets, a platform supporting minority language use on Twitter. The author identifies three key attributes of social media innovation: addressing identified social needs, supporting relevant communication capabilities, and enhancing society's capacity to act. The study finds that Indigenous Tweets' relevance varies across cultural contexts, relies on incremental experimentation, and operates within a hybrid media ecosystem shaped by multiple stakeholders.
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Enhancing integration of Indigenous agricultural knowledge into USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service cost-share initiatives
Indigenous agricultural knowledge practices in the American Southwest have sustained ecosystems for millennia, yet only 2% of USDA conservation cost-share contracts go to American Indian farms despite comprising 2.9% of U.S. farms. The paper demonstrates that Hopi dryland farming, Chippewa wild rice harvesting, and Menominee forestry practices align with NRCS conservation goals. The authors argue for integrating Indigenous practices directly into NRCS technical guides rather than requiring ad hoc approval processes, removing barriers to participation and preserving both ecosystems and Indigenous cultures.
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Indigenous Knowledge and Acceptability of Treated Effluent in Agriculture
This study examined whether indigenous knowledge can increase acceptance of treated effluent from human waste in agriculture. Researchers conducted focus groups in rural and peri-urban South Africa and found that communities showed willingness to grow and consume food using treated effluent. Participants referenced indigenous practices supporting recycling and reuse of human excreta. The findings suggest leveraging traditional knowledge to address food insecurity and sanitation challenges simultaneously in rural and peri-urban areas.
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Rural Farmers Use of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Agriculture for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Southeast Nigeria
Farmers in Southeast Nigeria use traditional indigenous knowledge practices to adapt to and mitigate climate change. The study surveyed 360 farmers and found they employ crop diversification, rotation, mulching, agroforestry, water storage, and natural pest control methods. These proven practices remain effective and safe, and the researchers recommend integrating them with modern agricultural techniques.
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Knowledge Management Strategy for Indigenous Knowledge on Land Use and Agricultural Development in Western Ethiopia
Local communities in western Ethiopia possess substantial indigenous knowledge about land use and agriculture, but fail to systematically acquire, develop, share, or preserve it. The study identifies major barriers including poor knowledge-sharing culture, lack of written records, generational disinterest, oral-only transmission, lifestyle changes, and insufficient recognition of indigenous knowledge. The authors recommend developing knowledge management strategies to better capture and utilize this local expertise.
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Decolonizing design innovation: design anthropology and indigenous knowledge
Design anthropology integrates anthropological research with design thinking to create collaborative, user-centered solutions. Practitioners work in multidisciplinary teams to address real-world problems through observation, interpretation, and co-creation. The field examines how design drives cultural production and change globally, while questioning design's impact on anthropology itself. This approach emphasizes indigenous knowledge and decolonizing design practices.
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Indigenous Innovations in Qualitative Research Method: Investigating the Private World of Family Life
This paper presents an indigenous research method developed with Māori families to study family communication and well-being. Rather than imposing external researchers, family members record their own conversations and participate in interpreting the data. The approach gives research participants active control over what aspects of their private lives they share and how findings are understood, combining Western and Māori-centered ethical practices.
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The management of indigenous knowledge with other knowledge systems for agricultural development: challenges and opportunities for developing countries
Tanzanian farmers struggle to integrate indigenous agricultural knowledge with external knowledge systems due to personal, social, and resource constraints, weak infrastructure, unclear intellectual property policies, and poor connections between researchers, extension workers, and farming communities. The paper identifies specific challenges and recommends strategies to strengthen knowledge management systems for agricultural development in rural Tanzania.
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Emerging ideas for innovation in Indigenous education: a research synthesis of Indigenous educative roles in mainstream and flexi schools
Indigenous staff play distinct educative roles in mainstream versus flexi schools in Australia. Flexi schools engage disproportionately high numbers of Indigenous students and staff, yet remain overlooked in Indigenous education discourse. This research synthesis reveals contrasting approaches between the two schooling types, suggesting that flexi schools' models offer insights that could reshape the broader Indigenous education agenda across all educational settings.
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Indigenous knowledge systems and agricultural rural development in South Africa : past and present perspectives
Indigenous knowledge systems sustained rural livelihoods and biodiversity in South Africa for centuries until colonialism and apartheid disrupted them. The paper examines how IK can support agricultural development today, identifying gaps in research and policy. While the South African government has advanced IK protection, gaps remain in intellectual property legislation and implementation. Agricultural and soil-focused IK research needs expansion to unlock innovation potential for rural development.
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Using Indigenous Knowledge in Traditional Agricultural Systems for Poverty and Hunger Eradication
Indigenous knowledge systems offer practical solutions for South African agriculture, enabling resource-poor farmers to improve food security, reduce poverty, and generate income through cost-effective, labour-intensive methods. Indigenous practices inform crop selection, animal breeding, storage, processing, and farm tool design. The article emphasizes urgency in documenting this knowledge before the elderly generation holding it disappears.
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Indigenous innovation and organizational change towards equitable higher education systems: the Canadian experience
Indigenous peoples in Canada have leveraged innovation discourse to push universities toward organizational change that incorporates Indigenous knowledges and worldviews. The study examined 15 research-intensive universities and interviewed 13 Indigenous people, finding that Indigenous groups successfully created normative shifts in institutional structure. Decolonizing approaches to innovation offer pathways to equitable higher education by centering reciprocity, ecological sustainability, and land connection over market-driven models.
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The role of permaculture in the integration of indigenous and modern agricultural knowledge: Evidence from Konso, Ethiopia
Farmers in Konso, Ethiopia adopt some modern agricultural practices like improved seeds and pest control methods, but remain skeptical about chemical fertilizers and seed varieties that threaten local crops. The study finds that permaculture offers a promising bridge between indigenous and modern farming systems because its philosophy aligns with traditional knowledge while addressing food security challenges. Properly implemented permaculture can integrate both approaches effectively.
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Applying Indigenous Knowledge to Innovations in Social Work Education
This paper argues that social work doctoral programs should integrate indigenous holistic worldviews and the four Rs (relationships, responsibility, reciprocity, redistribution) alongside translational science and metacompetencies. These innovations prepare researchers for transdisciplinary teams tackling complex problems. The author contends this approach strengthens social work science, elevates its scholarly standing, embeds social work values in research, and reduces hierarchies between natural and social sciences.
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A Disruptive Innovation Model for Indigenous Medicine Research: A Nigerian Perspective
Nigeria's pharmaceutical sector struggles to develop affordable medicines despite access to indigenous medicinal knowledge. The paper argues that the problem isn't just economic or technological constraints, but rather the absence of frameworks for scientific validation and policymakers' failure to account for local realities. The author proposes a disruptive innovation model that applies scientific rigor to traditional phytomedicinal knowledge, enabling researchers and policymakers to identify effective treatments while discarding ineffective ones.
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Do government incentives increase indigenous innovation commercialisation? Empirical evidence from local Ghanaian firms
Government incentives affect indigenous innovation commercialisation differently in Ghana's small-scale industry. Supply-side incentives increase employment but not sales or profits. Demand-side incentives to buyers significantly boost sales, profitability, and employment, and strengthen the positive effects of market factors. The study recommends shifting innovation support toward demand-side strategies in low-income economies.
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Relationship between Indigenous Knowledge Development in Agriculture and the Sustainability of Water Resources
Indigenous agricultural knowledge can address water scarcity in dry regions. This study examined factors affecting indigenous knowledge and sustainable water management in Iran's Sistan region through interviews with 40 experts and a fuzzy hierarchy analysis. Educational extension emerged as the top priority factor (0.37 weight), followed by social factors, government support, economics, and farmer knowledge. The authors recommend strengthening local indigenous knowledge and promoting modern irrigation techniques.
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Transition to the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Africa’s Science, Technology and Innovation Framework and Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Africa's science, technology, and innovation policies fail to adequately integrate indigenous and traditional knowledge systems into fourth industrial revolution strategies. The paper argues that African nations must develop deliberate, indigenous knowledge-sensitive STI frameworks to leverage local knowledge systems and ensure equitable participation in the bioeconomy and broader 4IR innovation ecosystem.
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Examining the Role of Regulation in the Commercialisation of Indigenous Innovation in Sub-Saharan African Economies: Evidence from the Ghanaian Small-Scale Industry
Regulation significantly boosts the commercialization of indigenous innovation in Ghana's small-scale industry. A survey of 557 firms found that regulation positively affects sales, employment, and owner satisfaction, while also strengthening how finance and organizational factors drive firm performance. The study challenges the deregulation narrative, arguing that low-income economies need balanced, appropriate regulations to support indigenous innovation.
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Applications and innovations in typeface design for North American Indigenous languages
Indigenous North American language speakers face significant barriers when typing their languages due to inadequate typeface support. The paper documents typeface innovations developed by Indigenous communities and identifies the critical role of designers in creating tailored solutions. It highlights how cross-platform consistency remains unavailable for most Indigenous languages, contrasting with dominant languages, while celebrating emerging collaborations between type designers and Indigenous communities that offer promise for addressing these longstanding technical inequities.
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Effects of Land Degradation on Agricultural Land Use: A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers Indigenous Knowledge on Land Use Planning and Management in Kalama Division, Machakos County
Smallholder farmers in Machakos County, Kenya use indigenous knowledge to manage land degradation and plan agricultural land use across different slope zones. Farmers recognize degradation indicators through local environmental knowledge and employ traditional practices like tree planting, crop rotation, organic manure application, and water conservation structures. Land use patterns and management strategies vary by terrain and zone characteristics, with tree planting and water conservation being the most common practices. The study demonstrates that place-based understanding of local decision-making can improve rural livelihood security and inform targeted land management interventions.
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“Moving from transactional government to enablement” in Indigenous service delivery: The era of New Public Management, service innovation and urban Aboriginal community development
Aboriginal Community Based Organisations in Newcastle, Australia have successfully driven urban Aboriginal community development and self-determination for 40 years. New Public Management reforms that treat social services as market commodities threaten this success by prioritizing transactional government over genuine community enablement. The paper argues that policy must shift toward authentic enablement that supports Aboriginal autonomy and community-led development rather than market-driven service delivery.
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Practical agricultural communication: Incorporating scientific and indigenous knowledge for climate mitigation
This research developed a practical agricultural communication framework combining scientific and indigenous knowledge to help farmers mitigate climate change. Working in Thailand's Phichit province, the authors used participatory methods to identify successful farmers practicing sustainable techniques like rice straw composting and alternative wetting and drying. These farmers became messengers, delivering practical, visually clear information through vinyl signage in community spaces. The framework emphasizes that blending scientific and indigenous knowledge strengthens relationships among people and with nature, and requires enhanced communication promotion at local and national levels.
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Broadband policy and rural and cultural divides in Australia
Australian broadband policy fails to account for local preferences and cultural contexts, particularly among Indigenous communities. The paper argues that infrastructure alone cannot solve digital divides; instead, policies must respond to how different populations actually want to use technology. Remote Indigenous Australians prefer mobile over satellite services due to geography, culture, and economy. Addressing digital exclusion requires understanding local factors beyond just socio-economic disadvantage.
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Studying Discourse Innovations: The Case of the Indigenous Movement in Ecuador
Ecuador's indigenous movement underwent major discursive innovation in the 1970s and 1980s by reframing indigenous peoples as nationalities entitled to self-determination and autonomy. This conceptual shift introduced demands for plurinational and intercultural state reorganization, fundamentally reshaping national political discourse and giving the movement lasting influence in Ecuadorian politics.
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The Cultivation of Organizational Innovation amongst Malaysian Bumiputera (Indigenous) ICT-Based Small Firms
A study of five Malaysian Indigenous ICT entrepreneurs reveals that implementing research and development activities is the key approach for developing organizational innovation in small ICT firms. The research identifies R&D as the pertinent strategy that Indigenous-owned technology companies should adopt to cultivate innovation within their organizations.
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Managing Agricultural Indigenous And Exogenous Knowledge Through Information And Communication Technologies For Poverty Reduction In Tanzania
ICTs can help Tanzanian rural communities manage agricultural indigenous knowledge while integrating external knowledge to reduce poverty and hunger. The paper argues that combining local farming practices with global agricultural information through digital technologies improves productivity. Rural Tanzanians currently lack access to global knowledge and platforms to share their own expertise, creating missed opportunities for agricultural advancement.
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Diffusion of Innovation: A Plea for Indigenous Models.
English language teaching in former colonial countries has relied on importing Western methods rather than developing homegrown approaches. This imitation fails because it ignores existing local pedagogical traditions and causes rejection in local contexts. The paper argues for indigenous curriculum models that build on local practitioners' strengths, amplify local voices, and remain sensitive to specific cultural and contextual needs.
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Influence of social and spatial embeddedness on rural entrepreneurship in the Amazon: a study with a Brazilian tribe' enterprising Indians
Social and spatial embeddedness significantly shape indigenous entrepreneurship in the Brazilian Amazon. The study of fourteen Paiter-Suruí entrepreneurs reveals that dense social networks and deep territorial connections jointly influence business creation and development decisions. Social and spatial embeddedness reinforce each other, suggesting integrated approaches are essential for understanding and supporting rural entrepreneurship in developing economies.
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The Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity: The Osage Nation’s Mobile Market
The Osage Nation developed a tribal farm to address food insecurity and chronic disease among its citizens. When remote and mobility-limited community members couldn't access farm products, the Nation partnered with the Center for Indigenous Health Equity to conduct participatory research identifying food access barriers. This led to a mobile market delivering locally produced meats, herbs, and vegetables to underserved areas, prioritizing food sovereignty and addressing structural inequality.
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Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Smart Agriculture—A Review
Indigenous knowledge systems in sub-Saharan Africa offer proven strategies for climate-smart agriculture that help rural farmers adapt to rising temperatures, changing rainfall, and extreme weather. Farmers have successfully used traditional practices passed down through generations to manage climate risks. Despite evidence that integrating indigenous knowledge with modern climate-smart agricultural innovations improves adaptation and resilience, adoption remains low in developing countries. Strengthening indigenous knowledge systems through capacity building could enhance smallholder farmer resilience to climate change.
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Markers of identification in Indigenous academic writing: A case study of genre innovation
Māori scholars writing in the journal AlterNative use distinctive linguistic features—ambiguous collective pronouns, personal storytelling, and prominent acknowledgment of Elders' knowledge—that reflect Indigenous knowledge-making practices and protocols. These features represent genre innovation within academic writing, showing how Indigenous epistemes reshape dominant academic discourse while maintaining social relations with communities both inside and outside the academy.
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Endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus with minimal resources: Resource utilization and indigenous innovation in developing countries like India
Indian neurosurgeons successfully treated hydrocephalus using endoscopic surgery in resource-limited public hospitals by designing indigenous equipment and coordinating across departments. They adapted available tools from anesthesia and used custom-made steel sheaths to perform 34 procedures with minimal specialized resources, achieving comparable outcomes to standard approaches and demonstrating that innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration can overcome equipment scarcity.
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Documentation and Application of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) for Sustainable Agricultural Development
This paper documents indigenous traditional knowledge systems and demonstrates how they can be applied to achieve sustainable agricultural development. The authors show that indigenous practices offer practical solutions for improving agricultural productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability, providing a framework for integrating traditional wisdom with modern agricultural approaches.
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Merging Indigenous and Modern Knowledge in Agricultural Development
Merging indigenous knowledge with modern agricultural technology accelerates rural development in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Farmers adopt modern practices more readily when technologies align with local customs and culture. The paper argues that sustainable agricultural innovation in remote areas requires integrating traditional wisdom with contemporary systems, fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing that generates locally appropriate innovations and policies.
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An Evaluation of Technology Innovation on the Performance of Indigenous Textile Weaving Firms in Southwestern Nigeria
Technology innovation significantly improves performance of indigenous textile weaving firms in southwestern Nigeria. Investment in technology, product innovations, capital investment, and business experience drive firm success. However, high taxes, R&D costs, local competition, and regional market pressures constrain performance. Domestic marketing and advisory services support firm resilience.
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An Overview of Innovation Intensity in the Indigenous Oilfield Services Firms in Nigeria
This study examined innovation types and intensity across 100 indigenous Nigerian oil and gas service firms between 2001 and 2010. Organizational innovation dominated at 46%, while product, process, and diffusion-based innovations occurred less frequently. Overall innovation intensity remained low, with minimal patents granted, limited R&D staffing, and weak organizational learning. Firms reported innovation benefits mainly through profit increases, process improvements, and new product development.
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China's Indigenous Innovation Policies Under the TRIPS and GPA Agreements and Alternatives for Promoting Economic Growth
China implemented Indigenous Innovation policies that favor government procurement of high-technology products with Chinese-owned intellectual property. The US and EU criticized these policies as trade barriers that commercialize foreign ideas in China. This paper analyzes whether these policies comply with TRIPS and GPA agreements, examines their economic rationale, and proposes alternative approaches—including increased R&D investment and stronger IP protection—that would allow China and foreign competitors to achieve technological growth without trade violations.
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The use of scientific and indigenous knowledge in agricultural land evaluation and soil fertility studies of two villages in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Researchers compared indigenous soil knowledge from 59 small-scale farming households in KwaZulu-Natal with scientific land evaluation methods. Farmers classified soils primarily by color and texture, assessed land suitability mainly through slope position, and evaluated fertility using multiple indicators including crop yield, vegetation, and soil organisms. Farmers' assessments proved more holistic than scientific approaches, yet showed strong correlation with scientific evaluations, demonstrating that indigenous and scientific knowledge systems align on soil management.
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TIM based indigenous innovation: experiences from Haier Group
Chinese enterprises face restrictions from dependence on foreign technologies. This paper analyzes Haier Group's innovation practices and argues that total innovation management (TIM) forms the foundation for indigenous innovation. Strategic innovation provides direction, market-oriented innovation sets goals, and cultural innovation creates the right environment. The paper concludes that enterprises must pursue indigenous innovation for sustainability, guided by clear strategic goals and continuous mindset change.
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Indigenous Knowledge in Entrepreneurship and Cultural Tourism in the Rural Areas
Indigenous entrepreneurs in rural areas successfully integrate traditional knowledge into their businesses, particularly in cultural tourism, which is growing but remains largely informal. However, these entrepreneurs face significant barriers including inadequate capital, limited access to funding, and discrimination from financial institutions. The study calls for comprehensive support mechanisms to strengthen indigenous entrepreneurship and sustainability practices based on traditional knowledge systems.
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The Potential of Indigenous Technological Knowledge for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Indigenous Technical Knowledge practices in India offer proven methods for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture. The paper documents traditional techniques including green manuring, vermicomposting, and traditional irrigation systems that improve soil health, manage water efficiently, and adapt to climate variability. Integrating these indigenous practices with modern agriculture enhances resource efficiency, conserves biodiversity, and strengthens rural livelihoods.
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China’s Indigenous Innovation Policies
China launched indigenous innovation policies in 2006 using public procurement, megaproject funding, and technical standards to push domestic firms toward developing their own intellectual property. International trading partners criticized these policies, making them a flashpoint in US-China trade tensions. China continues supporting indigenous innovation despite global opposition.
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Chinaʼs Indigenous Innovation Policies and the World Trade Organization
China's Indigenous Innovation Policies incentivize government procurement of products containing Chinese-owned technology and intellectual property. U.S. companies argue these policies discriminate against foreign firms and force technology transfer as a condition of market access. This article examines whether China's government procurement policies violate World Trade Organization obligations and concludes that China operates within its legal rights under international trade law.
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Supporting farmer innovations, recognizing indigenous knowledge and disseminating success stories.
Farmer innovations in aquaculture drive economic growth and food security, but face barriers including limited information access, weak science policies, and insufficient government support. The paper identifies critical success factors: updated technology policies, investment incentives, targeted education, extension services, and culturally appropriate programs. Proper policy design can help developing countries harness farmer innovations to achieve food security and poverty reduction.
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Teachers’ Perceptions on Inclusion of Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Crop Production: A Case Study of Zimbabwe’s Ordinary Level Agriculture Syllabus (5035)
Teachers in Zimbabwe recognize agricultural indigenous knowledge systems but rarely use them formally in crop production classes. While educators believe integrating these practices would promote sustainability and restore cultural identity, significant barriers exist: reliance on oral tradition and perceived inferiority to Western methods. The study recommends harmonizing indigenous and Western agricultural approaches in the curriculum and documenting indigenous knowledge in written form.
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Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge in Kumaon hills of Uttaranchal
Farmers in Uttaranchal's Kumaon hills maintain indigenous agricultural knowledge developed over thousands of years, which sustains production while protecting environmental quality. Modern chemical-intensive farming threatens these practices, yet local farmers continue using traditional methods for crop production. The study documents this indigenous knowledge across various aspects of farming.
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From Vernacular to English: A Model of Innovation from within the Hearts of the Indigenous Teachers in Papua New Guinea
A vernacular elementary school teacher in Papua New Guinea developed an innovative approach to literacy education using local languages. Children who gained literacy skills in their local vernacular successfully transferred those skills to English and other languages. The approach improved outcomes for students, teachers, and families.
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Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge to Agricultural Growth in South Africa: A Case of Disaneng Community in the Ratlou Local Municipality
Indigenous knowledge systems in South Africa's Disaneng community drive agricultural growth through proven practices in land preparation, seed selection, soil fertility management, and crop storage. Local farmers possess deep understanding of weather patterns and seasonal timing. Religious beliefs and cultural dismissal of traditional practices create barriers to wider adoption. The study recommends targeted interventions to preserve and promote indigenous agricultural knowledge for sustained productivity gains.
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When digital technology innovation enhances Indigenous Peoples’ e-participation in climate change resilience-building: perspectives under the “e-GIS Smart, Inclusive, and, Climate-resilient Indigenous Peoples Landscape and Community Clearing-House Mechanism Solution”
Digital GIS and satellite technology tools can help Indigenous Peoples participate in climate resilience and biodiversity conservation on their territories. The paper presents an e-GIS platform with mobile and app interfaces designed to facilitate Indigenous participation in decision-making and climate action while supporting data sovereignty and decolonization. Implementation requires state support and alignment with UN agendas on Indigenous affairs.
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Indigenous-led First Peoples health interprofessional and simulation-based learning innovations: mixed methods study of nursing academics’ experience of working in partnership
Nursing academics working with Indigenous leaders developed culturally safe curriculum innovations through partnership. The study shows that educating educators about cultural safety in teaching, learning, and research is essential. Non-Indigenous academics can effectively collaborate within Indigenous-led pedagogical approaches to create culturally appropriate health education programs.
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Innovation as translation in Indigenous entrepreneurship: lessons from Mapuche entrepreneurs in Chile
Innovation in Indigenous entrepreneurship operates as cultural translation, not Western adoption. Mapuche entrepreneurs in Chile transform traditional daily practices into market-valued products by reconfiguring commercial practices through their own cultural frameworks. This process challenges homogenized innovation discourse and reveals how Indigenous enterprises strategically adapt rather than simply adopt external innovation models.
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Perceived attributes and adoption of Indigenous Technological Knowledge on agriculture - a case study from Bhirkot municipality of Syangja District, Nepal
Farmers in Nepal's Syangja District possess moderate knowledge of indigenous agricultural technologies, with practices like farmyard manure use and scarecrows proving most adoptable. Mixed cropping, green manuring, and ash-based seed storage remain common. However, adoption faces barriers including farmer preference for commercial inputs, social constraints, slow results, and insufficient government support. The study calls for government documentation and scientific validation of indigenous methods.
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Economic Contribution and Inequality Mitigation of Wicker Handicraft Entrepreneurship in Rural Kashmir, India
Wicker handicraft entrepreneurship in Kashmir generates substantial income for rural households and significantly reduces income inequality in the region. The study found that wicker handicraft income contributes nearly 67% of total household income and lowers the Gini coefficient from 53.14 to 21.85, indicating a strong equalizing effect. Education, family composition, housing status, and prior income levels are key factors determining entrepreneurial success in this forest-based cottage industry.
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Community Mangrove Aqua-Silviculture (CMAS Culture): An Innovation and Climate Resilient Practice by the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest Dependent Rural Communities of Bangladesh
Rural communities in southwestern Bangladesh have developed Community Mangrove Aqua-Silviculture (CMAS), an integrated farming system combining mangrove trees with fish and shrimp cultivation in shallow water plots. The practice produces harvestable mangrove species within 13-14 months and fish within one year, requires minimal maintenance costs, and strengthens climate resilience for forest-dependent communities in the Sundarbans region.
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Australian Indigenous Art Innovation and Culturepreneurship in Practice: Insights for Cultural Tourism
Indigenous art centers in Australia's Arnhem Land demonstrate successful cultural entrepreneurship through artistic innovation tied to tourism. The paper defines Indigenous culturepreneurship as a distinct practice that challenges Western definitions of culture and entrepreneurship, establishing six practical criteria for developing Indigenous cultural tourism ventures. These innovations enable Indigenous communities to maintain and promote living cultures while creating economic and social benefits.
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An Innovative Opportunity? Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Pedagogical Possibilities for Indigenous Learners
Social innovation pedagogy shares key features with Indigenous pedagogies in Canada, including experiential learning, reflection, and collaboration. The paper examines how these overlapping approaches can support Indigenous business students in building community resilience, while cautioning against forcing Indigenous knowledge systems into Eurocentric educational frameworks.
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Designers' and indigenous potters' collaboration towards innovation in pottery production
Designers and indigenous potters in Ghana collaborated to innovate pottery production while preserving cultural identity. Female potters with 25+ years experience and young men using improvised machinery adopted design thinking and new production methods. Through creative skills development, potters maintained cultural consciousness and satisfaction while producing culturally relevant, market-appealing products that reflected contemporary life.
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Documenting Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge and provision of access through Online Database platform
Rural communities in Uganda possess valuable agricultural indigenous knowledge that faces extinction due to environmental and cultural changes. This study documented AIK practices across three districts and created an online database platform to preserve and share this knowledge. The researchers trained field assistants to collect data from farmers, validated findings through community workshops, and built a digital system to prevent loss of traditional agricultural expertise and problem-solving strategies.
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Stem Barks and Roots Extravitism in Ekiti State Nigeria: Need for Conservation as a Sustainable Innovation in Healthcare Management in Rural Areas
Rural communities in Ekiti State, Nigeria rely heavily on botanical stem and root extracts for healthcare, viewing them as safer and cheaper than conventional medicine. However, most medicinal species are wild-harvested unsustainably and face depletion from deforestation. The paper argues that conservation of these indigenous species is essential to maintain rural healthcare access and sustainability.
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An Indigenous Innovation: An Example from Mobile Communication Technology
Chinese developers created a homegrown 3G mobile communications standard through indigenous innovation. The study identifies three key drivers: modular design that enables technological catch-up, weak intellectual property protections that incentivize local innovation, and the lingering presence of older technology that reduces the gap new innovations must bridge. These factors enabled radical technological advancement in the global South.
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The Jugaad Technology (Indigenous Innovations) (A Case Study of Indian Origin)
Jugaad represents an indigenous innovation mindset in India where individuals use their skills to solve problems economically and productively. The paper examines jugaad's potential to create self-employment opportunities for rural youth with new ideas, supporting inclusive growth across India. Through case studies from rural areas, the authors explore how jugaad innovations can address employment scarcity and resource constraints while establishing pathways for patent protection.
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COMPOSITE REPORT ON THE STATUS AND TRENDS REGARDING THE KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATIONS AND PRACTICES OF INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
This composite report documents the status and trends of knowledge, innovations, and practices held by indigenous and local communities. It synthesizes information on how these communities develop and maintain innovations rooted in traditional ecological knowledge and local practices, providing a baseline understanding of indigenous innovation systems and their contemporary relevance.
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Mapping the Enablers of Frugal Innovation and Firm Performance of Indigenous Innovation in Emerging Economies
Frugal innovation drives growth in emerging economies by creating resourceful solutions for resource-constrained environments. This study builds a hierarchical framework showing how five independent enablers—including resource constraints, prosocial motivation, and frugal design principles—influence frugal innovation and firm performance through linkage factors like frugal creativity and bricolage capability. The framework helps firms in developing economies achieve sustainable growth.
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Re-centring and recovering knowledge about climate-friendly agriculture: Learning from a woman African indigenous knowledge holder
An African indigenous knowledge holder taught fifteen science teachers climate-friendly agricultural practices, including animal manure use, manual soil turning, crop rotation, and medicinal plant cultivation. Teachers documented learning through portfolios and reflections. The intervention challenged conventional hierarchies about legitimate scientific knowledge and teachers, advancing epistemic justice while enabling educators to transcend curriculum boundaries and teach sustainable food production methods rooted in Southern knowledge systems.
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Innovation through indigenous knowledge sharing, organisational memory, and indigenous knowledge erosion on indigenous batik enterprise (a structural equation model in action)
Indigenous batik enterprises preserve traditional knowledge through generational sharing, but face erosion pressures. This study finds that innovation and knowledge-sharing practices strengthen organizational memory in these enterprises. Critically, innovation also accelerates knowledge erosion, while erosion simultaneously reduces knowledge-sharing capacity. The findings reveal tensions between modernization and cultural preservation in indigenous craft businesses.
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The Mahaboworn Model of Social Studies Learning Network Innovation to Develop of Indigenous History Learning Resources in Northern Thailand
Researchers in northern Thailand developed indigenous history learning resources by documenting the legend of Phra Nang Malika through participatory workshops with community leaders, monks, teachers, and youth. They created murals and a picture book that integrate local historical knowledge about women rulers in the Lanna Kingdom. The Mahabowon Model brought together universities, communities, temples, and schools to produce high-quality educational materials grounded in indigenous history.
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Documenting the agriculture based indigenous traditional knowledge in Manipur State of North Eastern India
Researchers surveyed eight districts across Manipur in northeastern India to document indigenous agricultural knowledge practices. They identified and validated 15 distinct traditional knowledge systems used by farmers through interviews and triangulation methods. The study argues that combining indigenous practices with modern agricultural approaches—called technology blending—can create new innovations while preserving traditional knowledge before it disappears.
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Cultural innovation in the face of modernization: a study of emerging community-based care in rural Cambodia
Rural Cambodian communities have developed a Buddhist ritual called sângkeahăh that functions as community-based care in response to modernization and rising medical costs. The ritual, performed at homes of ill persons, collects donations for families while allowing participants to earn merit. This practice represents a grassroots, culturally-rooted response that shifts care from private to public spheres, demonstrating how traditional values support adaptation to rapid social change.
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Innovation an Eco Friendly Technology: Tanning System using Semi Chrome and Improved Indigenous Tannins (Acacia Nilotica Pods)
Researchers in Sudan developed an eco-friendly leather tanning method using semi-chrome tanning combined with indigenous plant materials—Acacia nilotica pods (Garad) and Neem bark. Testing showed the resulting leather matched or exceeded traditional tanned leather in tensile strength, tear resistance, and thermal stability. Blending these local plant tannins significantly improved leather quality while reducing environmental impact.
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Indigenous technical knowledge for pest, disease and weed management in agriculture
This study documents indigenous technical knowledge used by tribal farmers for managing pests, diseases, and weeds in agriculture. Researchers surveyed 120 tribal farmers and compiled their traditional practices through primary and secondary sources. The findings reveal specific indigenous methods across three areas: pest management, disease management, and weed management in agricultural systems.
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The Need for Technological Innovations for Indigenous Knowledge Transfer in Culturally Inclusive Education
Indigenous knowledge systems in remote and rural communities face extinction due to colonization and cultural displacement. The paper proposes using information and communications technology to preserve oral and traditional knowledge systems and integrate them into community education. Technological innovation can help gather, store, and retrieve indigenous knowledge to support culturally inclusive education.
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Innovations in the Indigenous Textile Weaving Firms in Southwestern Nigeria
This study surveyed 300 small-scale textile weaving firms in southwestern Nigeria to examine technology innovations and their drivers. Most firms reported product innovations, while few adopted process or organizational changes. Male weavers predominantly used horizontal looms and females used vertical looms, with 96% relying on manual production. The research identified critical barriers: 58% lacked technical skills, 87% had no technical education, and 59% faced funding shortages. These deficits constrain firms' ability to adopt modern techniques and innovate.
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Indigenous Knowledges Driving Technological Innovation
Indigenous peoples use geospatial technologies to protect tribal self-determination and preserve cultural knowledge. However, Western geospatial tools misrepresent Indigenous ontologies and epistemologies. The authors advocate developing new technologies aligned with Indigenous ways of knowing to better express and preserve cultural heritage while supporting cultural survival.
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Determining factors influencing the adoption of indigenous knowledge in agriculture water management in dry areas of Iran
Iranian agricultural experts identified four key factors influencing farmers' adoption of indigenous water management knowledge in dry regions: social factors, extension education, economic conditions, and managerial practices. Social factors had the strongest impact, followed by education, economics, and management. The findings come from surveying 150 experts across agriculture and interior ministries.
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Back to basics: the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in agro-biodiversity and household food security in the smallholder agriculture sector: the case of Chipinge (Zimbabwe)
Indigenous knowledge systems in Zimbabwe's Chipinge district sustain agro-biodiversity and food security among smallholder farmers. Between 1994 and 2002, agro-biodiversity declined over 50%, with smaller farms maintaining greater diversity. Older farmers and female-headed households conserved more crop types and varieties than younger and male-headed households, demonstrating that traditional knowledge practices directly support agricultural resilience and household nutrition.
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Indigenous Soil Knowledge for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Sahel Zone of Niger, West Africa. 2. Indigenous Soil Classification System.
Farmers in Niger's Sahel zone classify soils using color, texture, and fertility based on generations of experience. Scientists validated nine local soil types against laboratory analysis of soil properties. The indigenous classifications matched scientific findings—farmers correctly identified poor sandy soils and fertile clayey soils. This indigenous knowledge system provides a practical, rapid method for evaluating soil variation in semi-arid regions and supports sustainable agricultural development.
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Practices are not Without Concepts: Reflections on the Use of Indigenous Knowledge in Artisanal and Agricultural Projects in India
This paper argues that development projects using indigenous knowledge in India fail because they focus on practices without understanding the concepts behind them. The author defines indigenous knowledge, indigenous knowledge systems, and indigenous technological knowledge, distinguishing these from tradition and invented tradition. Two case studies—one on artisans and one on bamboo—demonstrate that sustainability requires considering both practices and their underlying concepts in project design.
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Importing innovation or indigenous innovation: Evaluating the effect of climate finance on promoting environmental sustainability in developing countries
Climate finance reduces CO2 emissions in developing countries by approximately 3.31% per standard deviation increase, but works primarily through importing external innovations rather than fostering indigenous innovation. The mechanism fails in least developed countries, where climate finance shows no significant emissions reduction and sometimes increases carbon output. Indigenous innovation pathways remain underutilized despite their potential.
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Establishing large, permanent protection outcomes on Indigenous‐owned private land: Innovations at Gayini, Australia
Gayini, a wetland restoration project in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin, demonstrates an innovative conservation model combining Indigenous land ownership with legally-binding protection covenants. The project was co-developed with Traditional Custodians and shows how new governance arrangements can expand protected areas while respecting different tenure systems and ensuring biodiversity representation across diverse landscapes.
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Integrating Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge with Modern Practices for Sustainable Farming and Food Security
Farmers can achieve sustainable farming by combining traditional ecological knowledge with modern agricultural practices. A mixed-methods study found 45% of farmers fully adopted this integrated approach, while others adopted it partially. Key barriers include lack of institutional support, funding constraints, and inadequate policies. The research shows that combining traditional methods like intercropping and organic pest control with modern precision farming improves soil health, water retention, and farm profitability. Policymakers must provide training, financial support, and regulatory frameworks to increase adoption.
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Constructing an Indigenous knowledge approach to agroecology and regenerative agriculture: The case of Yucatec Maya
Yucatec Maya farmers are abandoning traditional sustainable practices for conventional agriculture, driven by climate change and resource degradation. This paper reveals how Indigenous Yucatec Maya concepts—including diversity, resilience, food security, and sovereignty—underpin their traditional food systems. The authors argue that integrating this Indigenous knowledge with agroecology and regenerative agriculture approaches will strengthen food system transformation and increase long-term success.
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NGOs' Role in Sustaining Indigenous Knowledge in RuralBangladesh: Agriculture, Healthcare, and Disaster Management
NGOs in rural Bangladesh actively preserve and apply indigenous knowledge across agriculture, healthcare, and disaster management. The study documents how organizations like BARCIK support local communities in using traditional practices for cyclone resilience, seed preservation, and farming methods. NGOs bridge indigenous knowledge with modern science, protecting these practices from erosion due to globalization while enabling sustainable rural development.
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Evaluation innovation in Africa: Towards indigenously responsive evaluation (IRE) philosophies, methods and practices in Ghana
This study examines how indigenous Ghanaian cultural values, social structures, and knowledge systems can inform evaluation practices. The researchers found that traditional evaluative approaches embedded in community norms, relational patterns, and cultural wisdom offer valuable dimensions that contemporary evaluation frameworks should incorporate. These indigenous evaluative impulses can enhance and deepen modern evaluation philosophies and practices in Ghana.
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Innovation and Well-Being in Indigenous Entrepreneurship in Indonesia: A Capability Approach
Indigenous entrepreneurs in Indonesia innovate to preserve cultural heritage alongside economic gain. A capability approach study of two Indigenous communities reveals that cultural well-being drives innovation participation and collective learning. Understanding how Indigenous entrepreneurs value innovation—beyond profit—shows that cultural preservation acts as both an outcome and mechanism enabling community members to engage in innovation efforts.
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Sustainability of Africa through technological innovations and indigenous knowledge systems: a discussion of key factors and way forward
African sustainable development requires integrating indigenous knowledge systems and philosophical frameworks like Ubuntu with contemporary technological innovation, rather than adopting purely Western-imposed models. The authors argue that higher education institutions must bridge indigenous knowledge practices with global development approaches, shifting away from narratives that position Africa as deficient and toward locally grounded solutions that add value to African resources while preserving the environment.
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The Alberta Indigenous Mentorship in Health Innovation Network: approach, activities and reflections of an Indigenous mentorship network programme
The Alberta Indigenous Mentorship in Health Innovation Network supports First Nations, Métis, and Inuit scholars pursuing health research careers through intergenerational mentorship, funding, and professional development activities. The program strengthens scholars' personal and professional resources while advocating for systemic changes in academia and health research to promote Indigenous success. The authors describe their mentorship philosophy, organizational structure, and adaptations made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Advancing agriculture through Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in South African indigenous or black communities
South African indigenous communities developed sophisticated agricultural practices through traditional knowledge systems long before modern globalization. This qualitative study demonstrates that indigenous farming, harvesting, and related practices were effective and sustainable without relying on Western approaches. The research argues for recognizing and valuing these traditional knowledge systems rather than exclusively crediting modern, neoliberal agricultural methods.
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REVITALIZING INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES: MANUGAL AS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FARMING METHOD IN DAYAK NGAJU, INDONESIA
The Dayak Ngaju people of Central Kalimantan have practiced Manugal, a traditional rice cultivation method using direct planting, rainwater, and natural materials without synthetic inputs, for thousands of years. The Green Revolution marginalized this practice in favor of intensive agriculture with chemical inputs. This study examines how modernization damaged local traditions and proposes strategies to revive Manugal farming as an ecologically sustainable alternative to monoculture systems.
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Indigenous technical knowledge of Assam for pests management – Exploit potential in organic agriculture
A survey of 500 farmers in Assam's Brahmaputra valley zones found that only 22% fully practice indigenous pest management techniques, though 48% know about them. Researchers documented 30 different indigenous technologies across rice, pulses, tubers, vegetables, and fruits. The study suggests validating these traditional methods could strengthen organic farming in the region.
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Adapting to climate change amidst innovation diffusion and declining indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices in Ghana
Small-scale farmers in Ghana adapt to climate change by combining indigenous agricultural practices with externally promoted technologies, though adoption rates vary. Traditional methods like planting drought-resistant crops remain relevant, while some farmers integrate modern practices based on available knowledge and resources. Technology diffusion occurs unevenly across communities, shaped by lived experience and local conditions. Younger, educated farmers adopt modern approaches more readily, while older farmers navigate both traditional and new methods. The findings suggest governments should engage farmers by recognizing existing knowledge systems alongside innovation.
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Bridging Tradition and Innovation: Incorporating Indigenous Engineering Practices into Ghana’s Secondary School Curriculum
Ghana's secondary schools ignore indigenous knowledge systems in engineering education, making the subject feel disconnected from students' lives. This study surveyed students, teachers, curriculum developers, and local artisans to test whether incorporating indigenous technologies like mud construction and kente weaving into engineering curricula would improve engagement. Respondents strongly supported the integration. The research proposes a culturally responsive engineering model that connects formal schooling with indigenous practices, requiring curriculum redesign, teacher training, and community partnerships.
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Indigenous Knowledge on Shifting Cultivation and Sustainable Agriculture
Arfak farmers in West Papua use indigenous knowledge called igya ser hanjob to manage shifting cultivation on mountainous land sustainably. This ecological concept, passed down through generations, balances agricultural production with environmental protection and food security. However, modernization, plantation expansion, mining development, and land pressure threaten both the practice and the oral transmission of this knowledge to younger generations.
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Harvesting Traditions: Exploring the Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge Systems in Java, Indonesia and Mindanao, Philippines
Indigenous agricultural knowledge systems in Java and Mindanao demonstrate sustainable land management practices rooted in ecological understanding and cultural tradition. The study documents how indigenous farmers manage biodiversity, transmit knowledge across generations, and integrate spiritual dimensions into agriculture. These systems offer practical solutions to modern agricultural challenges while preserving cultural heritage and environmental sustainability in both regions.
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Conceptualizing RRI from a Global South perspective through Indigenous innovation practices in Aotearoa New Zealand’s high-tech science sector
This paper examines Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) through Indigenous Māori perspectives in New Zealand's high-tech science sector. The authors show that Vision Mātauranga, a national policy integrating Māori knowledge with Western science, drives RRI in practice through specific micro-practices: open innovation, capacity development, and absorptive capacity. A decolonized RRI approach extends responsible innovation beyond European frameworks, creating new science governance models that align with Global South contexts.
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Knowledge-Based Approaches to Adaptive Agriculture: An Ethnoecological Case Study of Indigenous Communities in Climate Change Adaptation
Indigenous vegetable farmers in Dieng, Java integrate traditional ethnoecological knowledge with adaptive farming practices to build agricultural resilience against climate change. Community leaders, elders, and government support through subsidies, loans, and policies protecting customary land rights drive successful adoption of these indigenous practices. The findings suggest these approaches have potential for broader implementation in similar regions.
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Indigenous Knowledge System and Agricultural Drought Adaptation in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal
Small-scale farmers in South Africa's uMkhanyakude District use indigenous knowledge systems to adapt to agricultural drought, which severely reduces crop yields and livestock. The study reveals that gender norms intensify drought impacts differently for men and women. Indigenous practices prove effective for building resilience, yet policy typically ignores them in favor of Western approaches. The research calls for culturally grounded, equitable adaptation strategies that address structural inequalities rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
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Indigenous Technical Knowledge Practices for Managing Pests and Diseases in Agricultural Crops
Farmers in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district rely on indigenous technical knowledge to manage agricultural pests and diseases. The study documented traditional practices like neem leaves, cow urine, and plant-based remedies used by 80% of 150 interviewed farmers. Sixty percent reported success in reducing crop damage. These methods proved cost-effective and eco-friendly, offering viable alternatives to chemical pesticides while reducing environmental dependence.
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Agriculture Teachers’ Perceptions on the Inclusion of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Secondary School Agriculture Curriculum, Nakuru County, Kenya
Agriculture teachers in Nakuru County, Kenya recognize the value of indigenous technical knowledge in farming. Over 50% of teachers are aware of indigenous crop and livestock practices and view them as cheap, reliable, and enriching. Most teachers support including this knowledge in secondary school agriculture curriculum because it equips students with practical, diverse farming skills. Some teachers resist inclusion, citing curriculum overcrowding and outdated practices.
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Indigenous knowledge for innovation and sustainable livelihood in Ghana’s informal economy
Indigenous knowledge drives innovation in Ghana's informal economy. A study of 300 informal-sector workers found that 90% rely on indigenous knowledge, with 85% using it to develop new products and services. Apprenticeship and museum archives best preserve this knowledge. Indigenous knowledge significantly improves food security, health, and environmental sustainability. However, lack of government support and poor integration with modern technology remain major barriers. The research demonstrates indigenous knowledge is essential for grassroots innovation but needs stronger policy backing.
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Indigenous Innovation in Orthopedic Robotics: Making Joint Replacement Affordable in India
Robotic joint replacement surgery improves precision and recovery but remains inaccessible in India due to high costs and limited training. Indigenous robotic platforms engineered locally can reduce expenses while maintaining accuracy, aligning with India's self-reliance goals and adapting to local anatomical and economic conditions. Achieving equitable access requires collaboration between clinicians, industry, insurers, and policymakers to transform robotic surgery from a premium service into scalable standard care.
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Spatial embeddedness in indigenous rural entrepreneurship: a systematic literature review
Indigenous entrepreneurs succeed by building strong internal ties within their close social networks while simultaneously creating external connections across different networks. The paper reviews 14 years of research and finds that spatial embeddedness—how location shapes entrepreneurial networks—remains largely unexplored in indigenous entrepreneurship literature. The authors argue that understanding entrepreneurs as spatially embedded agents offers new insights for indigenous rural business development.
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Responding to domestic and family violence in resource-constrained contexts: a case study on rural policing innovations in Melanesia
Police in four Melanesian countries innovate to address domestic and family violence in resource-constrained rural areas. The study finds that effective responses require stronger partnerships across sectors, increased police presence, and integration of indigenous strategies. Current efforts struggle with limited resources, low prioritization, and cultural barriers to gender reform.
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EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOCIAL INNOVATION: A CASE STUDY OF ECOTOURISM HOMESTAYS IN SABAH
Ecotourism homestays in Sabah represent Indigenous-led social innovation that empowers communities by redistributing ownership, knowledge systems, and decision-making power. Community-driven co-creation processes strengthen social networks, local leadership, and livelihoods across governance, economic, cultural, and environmental domains. However, the study warns that ecotourism alone cannot sustain empowerment without equitable governance, ethical frameworks, and recognition of Indigenous sovereignty. Only fully community-led models meaningfully redistribute benefits; external dominance risks reproducing inequality.
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Innovation in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Education: A Summer Institute on Indigenous and Critical Methodologies
The University of New Mexico developed a summer institute teaching community-based participatory research (CBPR) using indigenous and critical methodologies grounded in Freirean pedagogy. The curriculum organizes CBPR around four domains: context, partnering processes, intervention/research, and outcomes. Since 2010, over 620 participants including students, faculty, community members, and practitioners completed the institute, gaining practical skills to apply CBPR principles in academic and community settings.
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REVITALIZING EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY: EXPLORING SOCIAL INNOVATION AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IN MODERN PEDAGOGY
This paper argues that education systems should integrate indigenous knowledge and social innovation to prepare learners for sustainability challenges. The authors demonstrate how indigenous wisdom can be incorporated into modern pedagogy to catalyze sustainable development solutions. They call for reconstructing conventional educational delivery models to embrace community cultural values and environmental sustainability alongside academic achievement.
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Integrating Gender and Indigenous Knowledge in Sub-Saharan African Animal Agriculture: Pathways to Climate Resilience and Food Security
Climate change in Sub-Saharan African animal agriculture worsens gender disparities and erodes indigenous knowledge systems. A systematic review finds that empowering women and integrating indigenous knowledge systems significantly strengthen communities' ability to adapt to climate impacts and achieve food security. Policymakers should adopt gender-responsive strategies that incorporate indigenous knowledge.
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Bridging knowledge systems synergies gaps and drivers of Indigenous and scientific knowledge integration for sustainable agriculture in Ethiopia
Ethiopian farmers rarely integrate indigenous knowledge with scientific agriculture, despite potential benefits. The study of 197 farmers found that social networks, belief in indigenous knowledge, contact with agricultural extension agents, and religious participation all strengthen integration. Formal education actually discourages it by emphasizing only modern science. The researchers recommend revitalizing extension services and creating community platforms that combine both knowledge systems into agricultural policy.
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Indigenous Innovators: Creating Collaborative Student-Engineer Innovation Teams between Tribal Colleges and Research Institutions
A tribal college and research university in North Dakota collaborated on a biomedical engineering project to design a running prosthetic limb. The tribal college provided advanced manufacturing capabilities and indigenous problem-solving approaches, while the university contributed innovation-based learning and computational resources. The partnership successfully combined indigenous ways of knowing with modern engineering tools, demonstrating how cross-institutional collaboration between tribal and research institutions strengthens student innovation teams and produces practical solutions.
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Indigenous Language Revitalization and Preservation in Canada: Strategies and Innovations
Indigenous languages in Canada face endangerment due to historical assimilation policies and residential schools. This paper examines current revitalization initiatives, government programs, and legislation supporting Indigenous language preservation. The author argues that new strategies using digital technologies and internet platforms can make language revitalization resources more accessible and effective across Canada.
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Pedagogical Innovations in Community-Based Inclusive Education: Integrating Intergenerational Learning in the Context of the Sociology of Indigenous Communities
This systematic literature review examines how intergenerational learning within community-based inclusive education strengthens social and cultural relationships in indigenous communities. The findings show that integrating traditional knowledge with pedagogical innovations improves educational quality, bridges educational gaps, and increases community participation. The approach addresses social inclusion challenges while preserving cultural heritage and traditional values in indigenous societies.
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INNOVATION IN INDIGENOUS TOURISM: LESSONS FROM EN OORU TRIBAL HERITAGE VILLAGE, WAYANAD, KERALA
The En Ooru tribal heritage village in Kerala demonstrates how indigenous tourism preserves tribal culture while generating economic benefits. The project successfully combines preserved indigenous architecture, customs, and traditions with visitor attractions, drawing significant tourism revenue to the local economy. Government collaboration between Kerala's Tourism and Scheduled Tribe Development departments proved essential to the project's success, showing that institutional partnerships effectively support both cultural preservation and tribal community development.
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Harnessing the Experience of Research and Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in Arunachal Pradesh, India
Indigenous farming practices in Arunachal Pradesh, India—including botanical extracts, organic materials, and Vetiver grass barriers—effectively manage soil nutrients and prevent erosion while reducing artificial input costs. Integrating these traditional knowledge systems with modern agricultural research, supported by India's plant protection laws, improves farmer livelihoods, environmental health, and cultural preservation. This model offers a sustainable agricultural transformation pathway for the region and beyond.
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An investigation of Agriculture Knowledge Sharing through Indigenous Communication Systems: Insights from Ethnic Communities
Indigenous communication systems—including folk songs, rituals, proverbs, and riddles—effectively transmit agricultural knowledge among four ethnic communities in Assam, India. These traditional methods preserve seasonal farming practices and ecological wisdom better than modern communication alone. Integrating indigenous practices with modern extension systems strengthens rural agricultural communication and supports sustainable livelihoods.
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Cultural values and innovation in indigenous entrepreneurship: a case study from Indonesia
Cultural values shape innovation in indigenous hand weaving enterprises in Lombok, Indonesia. Strong community integration and social capital facilitate knowledge transfer and collective learning, promoting innovation. However, tradition-focused values and past-time orientation limit market expansion and future-oriented change. These same values enable entrepreneurs to respond effectively to current market trends, creating a tension between adaptive and transformative innovation.
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Multiperspective Pedagogy Innovation in Indigenous History to Enhance Happiness Historical Consciousness of Secondary School Students in the Cultural Diversity Area of Thailand
Researchers developed and tested the MITH Model, a multiperspective pedagogy innovation for teaching indigenous history to secondary students in culturally diverse areas of Thailand. The model combines motivation, independent learning, task-based learning, and holistic approaches through hybrid e-learning. Students who participated showed significantly higher levels of happiness historical consciousness and developed greater awareness of social issues, positioning them as engaged future citizens.
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PROMOTION AND PRESERVATION OF EU AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM INDIGENOUS SPECIES AND ITS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
The paper examines how intellectual property rights can protect local livestock breeds, plant varieties, and traditional knowledge associated with them in EU agriculture. Preserving these indigenous agricultural resources and their cultural practices requires legal mechanisms to control access and ensure communities benefit from their use.
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Identification Of Different Indigenous Technical Knowledge Application In Agriculture And Allied Sector In Some Selected Areas Of West Bengal
This study documents indigenous technical knowledge in agriculture, animal husbandry, and allied sectors across three blocks in West Bengal's Birbhum district. Researchers interviewed 90 respondents from nine villages and catalogued traditional practices spanning seed germination to post-harvest management, animal health, traditional implements, and medicinal plants. The findings show farmers value these environment-friendly, cost-effective, location-specific methods passed down through generations. Integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches can create sustainable, locally applicable agricultural technologies.
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Rural Farmers’ Perceptions and Utilization of Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge in Farming Practices in Delta State, Nigeria
Rural farmers in Delta State, Nigeria possess substantial indigenous agricultural knowledge and view it positively, with some practices proving more effective than others. Farmers' socio-economic characteristics correlate with their attitudes toward using indigenous knowledge. The study demonstrates that preserving and promoting these traditional practices can enhance agricultural development and benefit broader communities.
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Reviving indigenous farming knowledge in an input-intensive agriculture system: evidence from Eastern Uttar Pradesh
In Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, indigenous farming practices like organic manuring and intercropping are disappearing among smallholder farmers. A survey of 1,768 farmers found that while 60% still use organic fertilizer, most apply it incorrectly, reducing effectiveness and harming soil health. Farmers rely heavily on chemical inputs and monocropping instead. The study recommends farmer training, community awareness programs, and extension services to revive traditional practices and restore soil fertility.
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Science in the Language of the Land: Indigenous Communication of Agricultural and Environmental Knowledge
The Kalagan indigenous community in the Philippines communicates agricultural and environmental knowledge through oral traditions, symbolic rituals, intergenerational teaching, and practical demonstrations. These culturally rooted practices effectively transmit scientific concepts about weather, soil fertility, biodiversity, and climate adaptation. The study argues that integrating indigenous knowledge systems into formal education and policy strengthens sustainability, cultural continuity, and environmental stewardship.
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Representation of Indigenous Agriculture Knowledge and Practices in the Zimbabwe Secondary School Agriculture Curriculum: Prospects and Opportunities for Inclusion
Zimbabwe's secondary school agriculture curriculum largely excludes Indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices, reflecting Western knowledge dominance. The study proposes integrating Indigenous approaches through participatory curriculum development involving teachers, lecturers, extension officers, and farmers. This inclusion would make agriculture education contextually relevant, support sustainable practices, and preserve local heritage while addressing curriculum gaps.
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Women's Contribution to Indian Agriculture through Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Practices, and Impact on Sustainable Rural Development
Women drive Indian agriculture through indigenous knowledge systems, managing seed preservation, organic farming, and water conservation while maintaining ecological balance. Despite their critical role in food production and biodiversity protection, women face barriers in resource access, education, and decision-making. The paper calls for policy interventions to recognize and mainstream women's traditional knowledge, empower them with resources, and strengthen their participation in agricultural decisions to build sustainable, resilient farming systems.
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INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES (IKPs) AS RESPONSE TO AGRICULTURAL RISKS OF IP FARMERS IN BAAO, CAMARINES SUR
Indigenous farmers in Baao, Camarines Sur use traditional knowledge and practices to manage agricultural risks including climate variability, pests, and soil degradation. The study surveyed 179 Indigenous People farmers and found that rice farmers demonstrated the highest risk awareness, while corn, vegetable, and root crop farmers showed varying knowledge levels. Environmental observations and traditional rituals proved effective in building farm resilience and maintaining sustainable indigenous farming systems.
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Indigenous Knowledge of the Hmong People in Lai Chau, Vietnam: Sustainable Agricultural Adaptation and Climate Resilience
Hmong farmers in Lai Chau, Vietnam use a dynamic indigenous knowledge system combining ecological observation, cosmological reasoning, and social autonomy to adapt agriculture and build climate resilience. Their practices—flexible planting calendars, crop diversification, and ecological management—sustain food security and community wellbeing. The study argues that effective climate adaptation for indigenous peoples requires protecting their knowledge systems, cultural continuity, and agroecological practices.
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Indigenous Knowledge and Agriculture: A Study on Terrace Cultivation Practices Among Angami Nagas
The Angami Nagas of Nagaland have developed sophisticated terrace farming systems for paddy cultivation on steep mountain slopes. Their agricultural practices embed indigenous knowledge within cultural and environmental contexts, proving both ecologically adaptive and culturally resilient. The study demonstrates that preserving these traditional systems is essential for long-term food security and environmental stewardship, as their sustainability depends on the integration of ecological practices with community life.
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Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Through Trunthung Music: From Rural Heritage to Urban Innovation in Indonesia
This study examines how Trunthung music, a traditional Indonesian art form, transforms as it moves from rural to urban contexts. Rural communities use the music as a social activity rooted in local resources, while urban settings have made it more professional and income-focused. The research shows traditional music can adapt to modern demands while preserving cultural identity, contributing to sustainable communities and social cohesion across different environments.
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Rural electromobility: innovation for transportation in indigenous and rural communities
Rural electromobility using light electric vehicles like tricycles and motorcycles can reduce transportation gaps in indigenous and rural communities in southeastern Mexico. The study of three states found that despite financing and maintenance challenges, electric vehicles offer emissions reductions, cost savings, and improved service access. Success requires participatory design, local technical training, and coordination with academic institutions.
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Innovations in Rural Aging: Community-Based Approaches to Support Older Adults
Rural communities face distinct aging challenges requiring tailored solutions. This symposium presents five community-based interventions across U.S. regions: Indigenous healing methods improved care for Native American elders in South Dakota; culturally appropriate family solutions addressed caregiving gaps for Latinx families in New Mexico; low-tech healthcare tools supported rural Veterans with vision loss in Florida/Georgia; intergenerational programming promoted healthy aging in Oklahoma; and flexible community programs enhanced independence and quality of life for older adults in North Dakota. Community-informed approaches prove effective for rural aging.
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Bridging Tradition and Innovation: Indigenous Knowledge, Technology, and Rural Development under State Governance in Sabah, Malaysia
This study examines how indigenous knowledge and technology adoption shape rural development in Sabah, Malaysia under state governance. Researchers surveyed 150 rural households across three districts and interviewed community leaders and elders to understand technology use, agricultural productivity, and socio-economic outcomes. The findings reveal how traditional practices like tangaa farming knowledge integrate with modern innovation to drive community development.
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Place-Based Arts Education for Rural Revitalization: A Case of the “She” Ethnic Minority Theater in Ningde, China
A theater in Ningde, China dedicated to She ethnic minority culture functions as a place-based learning space that teaches traditional music, dance, and rituals. The theater strengthens community identity, enables intergenerational knowledge transfer, and boosts local tourism. Place-based arts education effectively bridges formal schooling with community learning while preserving cultural heritage and supporting rural revitalization.
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PV + Battery Storage System Design for Off-Grid Rural Homesteads in Navajo-Based Indigenous Communities
This paper describes the design of an off-grid solar and battery storage system for Navajo Nation homesteads in the southwestern United States. The system—1.6 kW photovoltaic array with 10.2 kWh battery storage—was developed through direct community input to ensure cultural alignment. Implementation delivers energy sovereignty, resilience, cost savings from improved water and food access, and workforce development opportunities for indigenous families.
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INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS INTO ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL FORMULA DEVELOPMENT: A FRAMEWORK FOR CURRICULUM INNOVATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
This research develops a framework for integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into advanced mathematics curriculum in Southern Africa. The author proposes cataloguing Indigenous mathematical knowledge, embedding it into modern mathematical contexts, and co-designing curriculum with Indigenous communities and educators. The framework addresses implementation barriers including resource scarcity, undervalued Indigenous knowledge, and inadequate teacher preparation. Integration of Indigenous approaches increases student participation, enhances learning diversity, and enables solving global problems through combined traditional and contemporary mathematical systems.
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Harnessing Sarawak’s Indigenous resources: innovations in product development
Sarawak's tropical rainforests contain over 100 indigenous fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices with significant untapped economic potential. MARDI Sarawak developed value-added products from resources like dabai, terung asam, and wild pepper—including herbal drinks, condiments, and premixed powders—to generate sustainable income for rural communities. The paper demonstrates how strategic product development from indigenous crops can drive economic growth in the agri-food sector.
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Developing Teaching ASEAN Indigenous Wisdom with Handmade Material Innovation the Create Equitable Learning Ecosystems to Promote Global Citizenship of Students in Special Economic Zone, Northern Thailand
Researchers in Northern Thailand developed trilingual handmade teaching materials incorporating ASEAN indigenous wisdom to teach ethnic Iu Mien students. The materials covered topics like local foods and animals, integrated into five lesson plans on community environment. Teachers and administrators identified strong need for native-language learning resources in border communities. Students who used these materials demonstrated the highest levels of global citizenship.
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Bridging tradition and innovation: strengthening food system resilience through Indigenous Guardian partnerships and knowledge sharing in the Sierra Nevada and British Columbia
Indigenous communities in California's Sierra Nevada and British Columbia strengthen food system resilience by combining traditional knowledge with modern tools. Through Guardian programs and participatory mapping, these communities restore stewardship of lands and waters while reclaiming data sovereignty. Elders transmit Indigenous knowledge through oral traditions and hands-on practice, enabling climate adaptation and food sovereignty. The study demonstrates that integrating Indigenous governance with emerging technologies creates resilient, culturally-grounded food systems.
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The framework of building indigenous technological innovation capabilities: A conceptual study focused on Saudi Arabia
This paper develops a four-stage model for building indigenous technological innovation capabilities in developing countries, with focus on Saudi Arabia. The model progresses through technology initiation, imitation, improvement, and innovation stages. The authors identify environmental factors and key actors influencing this process and analyze how the framework applies to Saudi Arabian firms and the broader Middle Eastern context.
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Correction: Bridging tradition and innovation: strengthening food system resilience through Indigenous Guardian partnerships and knowledge sharing in the Sierra Nevada and British Columbia
Indigenous Guardian partnerships in California's Sierra Nevada and British Columbia integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge—particularly cultural burning practices—with modern technologies to strengthen food system resilience and wildfire preparedness. The paper demonstrates that Indigenous-led stewardship enhances ecosystem restoration, community safety, and climate adaptation while advancing food sovereignty and supporting Indigenous land governance and cultural continuity.
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Smart and Sustainable Economic and Indigenous Farming: Modern Innovation With Traditional Wisdom Bridged
Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa face severe climate impacts on rainfed agriculture. This paper evaluates smart technologies that combine indigenous knowledge with modern approaches, finding that indigenous knowledge can be quantified and integrated with scientific methods. The authors argue this integration strengthens farmer resilience and food security decision-making, though current early warning systems often neglect traditional practices.
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Review Conservation Strategy and Innovation of Indigenous Indonesian Orchids for Sustainable Practice
Indigenous Indonesian orchids face extinction from habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change. This bibliometric review of 355 articles from 2018–2024 identifies research trends in orchid conservation and innovation, revealing three main themes: biodiversity protection, propagation technology, and ecotourism. The analysis shows 72 countries and 162 institutions contributed to this research, indicating substantial global interest and untapped potential for future conservation work.
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Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Scientific Innovation: Sociological Perspectives on Climate Adaptation in India
Indigenous communities in India possess centuries of ecological knowledge crucial for climate adaptation. This study examines how indigenous knowledge systems integrate with scientific innovation in agriculture, watershed management, and biodiversity conservation. The research identifies power imbalances and marginalization of indigenous voices in adaptation planning, advocating for inclusive frameworks that equally value traditional and scientific approaches to build more equitable climate policies.
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Entrepreneurial Culture of Technology Innovation and Customer Satisfaction of Indigenous Oilfield Services Companies in Selected South-South States, Nigeria
Indigenous oilfield services companies in Nigeria's South-South region that adopt entrepreneurial cultures of technology innovation achieve significantly higher customer satisfaction. The study surveyed 328 companies from a population of 1,827 registered firms and found a strong positive relationship between technology innovation practices and customer satisfaction outcomes in the oil services sector.
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The southern initiative: How indigenous values inspire social innovation and impact
The Southern Initiative, a unit within Auckland Council, demonstrates how Māori values transform public sector management and drive social innovation. The organization uses indigenous principles like mana (prestige) and whānau-centered design alongside distributed leadership to co-create place-based solutions that improve community wellbeing. This case study shows that embedding indigenous values into bureaucratic structures produces systemic change, social justice outcomes, and community resilience.
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Infusing Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKSs)in Technology Education: A Case of Food Processing and Preservation in a Rural Agricultural-based Economy
Indigenous knowledge systems are absent from South African technology education curricula, particularly regarding food processing and preservation. This omission disconnects rural learners from their heritage and practical skills for food security. The study found that integrating indigenous knowledge broadens educational experiences and enables development of appropriate technologies. Community resource persons can effectively deliver this content, and the authors recommend curriculum inclusion to empower rural agricultural communities.
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Integrating indigenous knowledge in modern agriculture: Challenges and opportunities
Indigenous agricultural practices developed over millennia offer sustainable, low-cost solutions to modern farming challenges like climate change and food insecurity. These traditional techniques are environmentally friendly and community-centered, but face extinction without documentation and scientific validation. The paper argues that integrating indigenous knowledge with contemporary agriculture requires collaboration between research institutions, NGOs, and policymakers to revive and disseminate these practices, creating resilient farming systems that preserve biodiversity and ensure food security.
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An Analytical Study of the Relationship between Farmer Characteristics and the Use of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Agriculture
This study examined how farmer characteristics relate to indigenous technical knowledge use in agriculture. Researchers surveyed 120 farmers in India and found that age, sex, occupation, and mass media exposure significantly influenced farmers' adoption of traditional agricultural practices. Farmers aged 35–41 with primary education and medium media exposure showed the strongest engagement with indigenous knowledge, which the authors argue enhances agricultural resilience and community-led innovation.
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Adaptability of Artificial Intelligence to Indigenous Knowledge of Agricultural Practices by Local Farmers in North Central, Nigeria
Local farmers in North Central Nigeria hold positive attitudes toward artificial intelligence in agriculture, but successful adoption requires culturally sensitive approaches that respect indigenous knowledge systems. The study recommends collaborative design involving technologists, anthropologists, and farmers, with government support for farmer participation in AI implementation and ongoing monitoring to ensure solutions align with local values and enhance rather than replace traditional practices.
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An investigation into the depiction of Indigenous Technical Knowledge (I.T.K.) related to agricultural practices in the Kesla block of Narmadapuram district, Madhya Pradesh
This study surveyed farmers in Kesla block, Madhya Pradesh, India to assess their knowledge and adoption of indigenous agricultural technologies. Most farmers (37.78%) had medium knowledge of these practices, while 32.22% had low knowledge and 30% had high knowledge. Adoption patterns mirrored knowledge levels, with 36.67% showing overall adoption, 34.44% low adoption, and 30% high adoption of indigenous crop production techniques.
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Knowledge of the tribal farmers on indigenous agricultural practices in paddy cultivation in the Pachaimalai hills of Tiruchirappalli district in Tamil Nadu
Tribal farmers in Tamil Nadu's Pachaimalai hills use indigenous agricultural practices for paddy cultivation that prove low-cost, reliable, and effective. The study documents their traditional knowledge of seed germination, storage, and pest management, including use of a traditional container called 'kudhir' to protect stored grain. These practices address disease management without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, offering sustainable alternatives to contemporary agricultural technologies.
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Gender Equality, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Resilient Smallholder Agriculture for a Changing Climate: A Path to Sustainable Rural Development in Africa
This study develops an intersectionality framework for African rural development that connects gender equality, indigenous knowledge systems, climate resilience, and smallholder farming. The research identifies gender inequality, climate change, low farm productivity, and food insecurity as interconnected barriers to rural development. The framework emphasizes that addressing these challenges together through gender-inclusive and culturally grounded approaches drives sustainable rural development and climate resilience in Africa.
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Study on Relevance of Indigenous Technical Knowledge of North East India in Sustainable Agriculture
Indigenous technical knowledge systems in Northeast India offer proven sustainable agriculture practices including traditional cropping patterns, soil conservation, pest management, and seed preservation. These methods promote ecological balance, climate resilience, and low-cost farming. However, commercialization, generational knowledge loss, and lack of scientific validation prevent wider adoption. The research recommends integrating and documenting indigenous knowledge alongside modern agricultural practices.
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Indigenous knowledge for sustainable agriculture development: banana ripening methodologies from South Africa
South African small-scale banana farmers use traditional Indigenous ripening methods involving natural materials like ashes, cow dung, and local leaves. These practices enhance food security and livelihoods while remaining undocumented in scientific literature. The study identifies why farmers maintain these techniques: they are affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly. The research calls for documenting and integrating this knowledge into educational programs to preserve cultural heritage and improve farmer livelihoods.
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Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture in Maharashtra, India
Indigenous knowledge systems in Maharashtra, India offer practical solutions for sustainable agriculture and environmental management. The paper documents traditional practices for soil and water conservation, pest control, and climate resilience that local communities developed through generations of experience. These knowledge systems address soil fertility, biodiversity, water management, and animal health, providing actionable insights for community-based agricultural development.
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Indigenous Knowledge of Soil Fertility and Agricultural Practices in Mopa Muro LGA, Kogi State, Nigeria
Rural farmers in Nigeria's Mopa Muro LGA rely heavily on indigenous soil fertility practices—organic manure, bush fallowing, and crop rotation—transmitted through oral tradition across generations. Most farmers face land scarcity, youth migration, and climate variability. However, 69% willingly combine traditional methods with modern inputs like improved seeds and chemical fertilizers. Education and age significantly influence adoption patterns. The study urges policy support and youth engagement to preserve these knowledge systems while integrating modern techniques.
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Exploring Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sustainable Agricultural Extension Practices
Local knowledge systems significantly enhance sustainable agricultural extension practices. Traditional practices like season-based planting, soil management, and water conservation remain effective for production sustainability. Integrating indigenous wisdom into extension learning materials improves adoption rates and agribusiness outcomes. Combining local knowledge with modern extension approaches creates more effective, participatory, and context-appropriate agricultural extension models.
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Climate change adaptation strategies among rural communities: Examining indigenous knowledge systems and modern agricultural techniques for sustainable food security
Rural communities adapt to climate change by combining indigenous knowledge systems with modern agricultural techniques. The study examines how traditional weather forecasting, crop diversification, and community resource management work alongside scientific advances. A synergistic approach integrating both indigenous practices and modern agriculture proves most effective for achieving sustainable food security and resilient livelihoods in rural areas facing environmental change.
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Contribution of the indigenous agricultural knowledge for local economic development in the Limpopo province: A case of indigenous liquified manure
Small-scale farmers in South Africa's Limpopo province rely on artificial farming despite having indigenous agricultural knowledge. This study examined indigenous liquified manure practices in Vuwani rural communities, interviewing 18 participants including farmers, traditional leaders, and agricultural experts. The research found that indigenous liquified manure significantly increases indigenous crop yields, enabling economic sustainability for communities and creating entrepreneurial opportunities for local job creation.
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Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resilience in Lao Agriculture
Indigenous knowledge systems in Northern Laos provide effective strategies for seasonal climate adaptation through bio-indicator prediction, nature-based farming techniques, and climate-tolerant crops. However, farmers lack confidence in these traditional methods for responding to extreme events like flash floods. The study reveals a critical gap between long-term adaptation capacity and short-term disaster response, leading researchers to recommend integrating indigenous knowledge with modern science through co-created early warning systems.
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Tobacco Use, Experiences and Knowledge Among Indigenous Mexican Agricultural Workers
Indigenous Mexican agricultural workers in the United States show high tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, with significant knowledge gaps about tobacco's health risks. Recent immigrants speaking only Indigenous languages need prevention programs most, while longer-term residents with Spanish proficiency need cessation resources. Current tobacco control programs rarely reach this population, creating an urgent need for culturally and linguistically tailored interventions.
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International journal of agriculture extension and social development indigenous technical knowledge for water conservation: A review
Indigenous water conservation techniques like stepwells, tanks, and qanats offer proven, low-cost solutions to global water scarcity. Developed through generations of local adaptation, these traditional systems harvest rainwater, manage groundwater, and support agriculture in arid regions while strengthening community resilience. The paper argues that integrating indigenous knowledge with modern approaches can address current water crises and ensure sustainable resource management.
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Climate Smart Disaster Risk Reduction: Indigenous Knowledge Practiced for Agriculture Sector in Coastal Bangladesh
Coastal Bangladesh communities have developed indigenous agricultural practices over generations to survive recurring climate disasters. This study documented traditional methods in Dashmina Upazila, including crop selection by weather observation, raised farming, fruit tree planting, arum cultivation, ridge-furrow farming, seed storage in mud pitchers, and livestock management on platforms. These low-cost practices build agricultural resilience and should be integrated into disaster risk reduction and development planning.
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Applying indigenous knowledge in agricultural livelihood models in A Ngo commune, A Luoi district
Indigenous knowledge systems among Ta Oi and Pa Co ethnic minorities in Vietnam's A Ngo commune enable sustainable agricultural livelihoods. The study identifies five viable models—beef cattle, organic pig farming, vegetable cultivation, traditional tree crops, and medicinal plants—that integrate local ecological and cultural practices. These approaches increase household income, conserve natural resources, and preserve indigenous culture in mountainous rural areas.
Media stories — 3
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Governor Newsom turns on largest public broadband network, California connects first rural community to internet
California activated the nation's largest public broadband network, connecting the Bishop Paiute Tribe as its first customer. The Middle-Mile Broadband Network delivers high-speed internet to rural and historically underserved communities across the state. The tribe will independently operate its broadband service, marking a major step toward closing the digital divide affecting 35% of rural Americans.
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Smart Village Dialogue Advances South Africa's First Indigenous Knowledge-Led Initiative
South Africa's Nyandeni Smart Village initiative held its second conference to advance implementation of an indigenous knowledge-based rural development model. The project integrates traditional knowledge systems with Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to create jobs, improve livelihoods, and revitalize rural communities while protecting indigenous knowledge under the 2019 Protection Act.
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Ghana and Kenya Rural Communities Adopt Innovative Solutions to Strengthen Food Security
Rural communities in Ghana and Kenya are adopting climate-resilient innovations to strengthen food security and incomes. In Ghana, Open Ghana established dry-season gardens using solar water pumps and village savings schemes, enabling vulnerable farmers to grow vegetables year-round. In Kenya, innovator Joe Ouko developed LOFODA-G-Meal, a locally-formulated feed from leaves, herbs, and mineral salts that doubled dairy goat milk production and created new income streams.
Organizations — 2
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Indigenous Innovation Initiative
The Indigenous Innovation Initiative empowers First Nation, Inuit, and Métis innovators and communities to develop solutions to their own challenges through funding, tools, and relationships. The organization supports Indigenous-led ideas addressing health, social, economic, and environmental challenges across rural, remote, and Northern communities in Canada. I3 grounds its work in Indigenous knowledge systems, values, and self-determination, having funded over 22 seed innovations and 3 transition-to-scale innovations across more than 70 communities.
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Technology Council
An Indigenous-led organization working with all 204 First Nations in British Columbia to build digital capacity and self-determination. The organization delivers digital skills training ranging from introductory computer courses to advanced programs in cybersecurity, data science, and drone stewardship, while conducting research on connectivity, spectrum, and the digital economy to support Indigenous decision-making about technology. It supports alumni in career development and helps them bring technical skills back to their communities.