Empowering Farmers: The Strategy Group's Co-Design Approach to Natural Capital Profiling

At The Strategy Group, we recently partnered with a NSW government agency to develop a groundbreaking natural capital profiling service for farmers. Here's how we turned vision into reality through co-design.

The Challenge

Our client aimed to support farmers in natural capital profiling and integrate environmental markets into their operations and generate new financial opportunities. The challenge: transform this visionary concept into a practical, user-friendly service that farmers would embrace.

Our Approach: Co-Design at Its Core

We put farmers at the heart of our design process:

1. Stakeholder Engagement: We conducted in-depth research with farmers, market players, and agency staff to uncover key needs.
2. Rapid Service Prototyping: We developed a self-service portal prototype for natural capital management.
3. Iterative Testing: We refined the prototype with real farmers to ensure practicality.
4. Strategic Planning: We created a comprehensive service blueprint and roadmap for implementation.

The Outcome

Our efforts yielded tangible results:

1. Actionable Insights: We provided a detailed roadmap for an effective pilot program.
2. Technical Foundations: Our blueprints equipped the IT team for seamless development.
3. Engaged Team: We fostered excitement among agency staff to bring this service to life.

Reflections

This project exemplifies the power of co-design in creating meaningful change. By bridging government initiatives and on-ground farming practices, we've helped create a service that could transform how farmers manage their natural capital.

We're proud of this work and its potential impact. What are your thoughts on supporting farmers in managing natural capital? Let's continue this important discussion in the comments.

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