The growing need to make science more relevant and usable for real-world decision-making has driven the emergence of new science-policy models. Among these, co-production has gained significant attention in fields like climate science, environmental management, and governance. Co-production emphasises collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and communities to ensure knowledge is both practical and inclusive. Its appeal lies in its potential to break away from traditional, one-way approaches to knowledge creation, where researchers produce findings for others to apply, and instead foster partnerships that reflect diverse perspectives and priorities. By doing so, co-production not only promises more actionable science but also addresses power imbalances in research, ensuring that solutions are better aligned with societal needs.
This page is part of the broader strand on Co-producing knowledge and understanding, which introduces related practices including participatory modelling and organisational learning.
Lost in the shadows: reflections on the dark side of co-production
This article responds to a commentary on the challenges of co-production in research. It critiques how recent debates define co-production, prioritise certain traditions, and highlight poor practices without considering context. The authors emphasise the need to address structural barriers that undermine co-production, advocating for systemic changes to make it more inclusive and effective.
The dark side of coproduction: do the costs outweigh the benefits for health research?
In this 2019 paper, Kathryn Oliver, Anita Kothari & Nicholas Mays summarise the arguments in favour of coproduction, the different approaches to establishing coproductive work and their costs, and offer some advice as to when and how to consider coproduction.
Making room and moving over: knowledge co-production, Indigenous knowledge sovereignty and the politics of global environmental change decision-making
This paper by Nicole Latulippe and Nicole Klenk brings literatures on knowledge co-production together with Indigenous knowledge, research, and environmental governance to explain why co-production scholars must move away from seeking to better ‘integrate’ Indigenous knowledges into western science and make way for Indigenous research leadership.
Co-production in global sustainability: Histories and theories
In this 2019 paper Clark Miller and Carina Wyborn identify several disciplinary convergences that allow us to synthesize a strong conceptual foundation for those seeking to design and implement co-production work in programs of global sustainability research and policy. Co-production practices produce both knowledge and sustainability outcomes, co-production practices should recognize and value both process and outcomes.
The art of co-production of knowledge in environmental sciences and management: lessons from international practice
This 2018 review by Ida Nadia Djenontin and Alison Meadow examines how to design and implement knowledge co-production in environmental and agricultural sciences. It outlines common themes and key components, offering practical guidance to tailor co-production processes to research contexts, stakeholder needs, and team capacities.
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