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World Café

Phases of the Innovation Cycle

Initial idea → Inspiration

Support to farmers

Group of farmers

Goal

To foster the exchange of ideas and expertise in a collaborative, informal setting, enabling participants to explore complex issues and generate shared understanding or innovative solutions.

Description

The World Café method is a structured conversational process where participants (typically 12-40) engage in small-group discussions on specific topics, rotating between tables to exchange and build upon ideas. Discussions are documented on paper sheets, flipcharts, or similar tools to capture key insights. A table host stays with each topic, summarising previous discussions for new participants. After each round (usually 10-20 minutes for the first round, with shorter times for subsequent rounds), groups are reorganised to bring in fresh perspectives while the table host ensures continuity.

 

 

 

Preparation times

4-6 hours

Execution times

4-6 hours

Materials needed

Tables, chairs, post its, writing utensils, timer/ bell, (topic cards).