By Henry Ojelu

A livestock scientist and academic, Dr. Olayinka Tawose, has called for a decisive shift in agricultural research, urging scholars to move beyond journal publications and deliver practical solutions that directly improve farm productivity and farmer livelihoods.

Dr. Tawose said the true value of agricultural research lies not in citation counts or academic prestige but in its ability to transform farms, improve animal health and boost profitability.

According to her, research only matters when it changes what happens in the pen, the pasture, the feed trough and the barn.

Speaking on the future of agricultural science, she noted that despite significant advances in livestock nutrition, animal health and production systems, many farmers continue to grapple with rising feed costs, disease pressure, climate stress and operational inefficiencies.

She attributed this disconnect to the persistent gap between scientific discovery and on-farm adoption.

“Most farmers do not reject innovation. What often limits adoption is uncertainty and the fear of risk,” she said.

Dr. Tawose stressed that for research to become farm-ready, it must be rooted in real problems faced by producers.

Studies designed in isolation from the field, she warned, often fail at the point of adoption.

“In contrast, research that addresses practical challenges such as feed inefficiency, toxin exposure, poor reproductive performance or pasture decline is more likely to gain acceptance and deliver impact,” she stated.

She also emphasised the importance of field validation, explaining that findings generated under controlled experimental conditions must be tested in real farm environments.

According to her, demonstration farms and on-farm trials help farmers see results firsthand, building trust and confidence in new practices.

“Evidence is most convincing when it comes from land that looks like theirs, using animals they can relate to,” she said.

On communication, Dr. Tawose described it as a powerful but often underestimated tool in agricultural development.

She said research outcomes must be translated into simple, clear and actionable messages that explain not just what works, but how it works, why it works, the costs involved and the risks to avoid.

She urged academics and research institutions to fully utilise extension bulletins, farmer meetings, radio programmes, short videos, newspaper articles and digital platforms to reach producers.

“Knowledge that is not understood cannot be used,” she said, adding that scientists must learn to communicate beyond academic circles to farmers, policymakers and the wider public.

Beyond communication, Dr. Tawose highlighted collaboration and inclusivity as critical to turning research into workable solutions.

She noted that livestock production is a complex system involving researchers, economists, extension officers, veterinarians, feed producers, marketers and policymakers.

Most importantly, she positioned farmers as co-innovators rather than passive recipients of knowledge, noting that their generational experience, when combined with science, produces stronger and more sustainable solutions.

Looking ahead, Dr. Tawose called for a renewed focus on impact-driven research.

She urged governments to increase funding for applied studies, strengthen extension systems, properly remunerate researchers and train young scientists to think beyond the laboratory.

“Moving beyond publications is not the abandonment of academic excellence; it is its fulfilment. When science truly serves the farmer, agriculture advances, and the entire nation benefits,” she concluded.