Central prairies living lab approach to codevelopment

Participatory research requires a relationship of communication between participants. The Central Prairie Living Lab, initiated in 2022, has worked to develop lines of communication among stakeholders in all aspects of this project. This codevelopment process has involved interested producers, researchers, and administrators in large group settings. Beneficial management practices (BMPs) were brought forward by livestock producers with an interest in their impact on the working landscapes used for livestock production. Researchers identified how they would measure the benefits to Carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation, plus other important biophysical attributes, coupled with socioeconomic assessments. The project, which will run until 2027, assesses BMPs across brown, dark brown, and black soil zones. Thus, field sites were required to retain similar designs, be limited to one of experiment, and commit to being involved for a relatively long term. Producers and researchers have been able to meet on an equitable basis, ensuring future uptake and success. This project?s collaborative approach extends beyond data collection to include interpretation and knowledge transfer. Knowledge transfer has also seen a high degree of enthusiasm. The key has been codevelopment in larger group settings, which will continue for the duration of the project.