Science Making in Seed Systems Research: Four studies on maize in Mexico and Kenya

Hybrid maize seeds are promoted as technologies for improving food security, climate adaptation and agricultural development, yet their benefits remain uneven. This thesis examines both farmers’ practices and the production of scientific knowledge in maize seed systems research for development in Mexico and Kenya. Four applied studies investigate climate perceptions and adaptation among Mexican maize farmers, satellite-based estimation of sowing dates, Kenyan farmers’ seed preferences, and changes in household varietal portfolios. Together, they reveal context-dependent decisions shaped by diverse production conditions, risks and livelihood priorities, challenging linear assumptions about adoption and varietal replacement.
Two project narratives and four science-in-the-making interludes examine how these findings were produced. Drawing on Science and Technology Studies, philosophy of science in practice and feminist technoscience, the thesis shows how methods, classifications, institutional priorities and socio-technical imaginaries shape what becomes scientific evidence. It argues that research assemblages make seed system practices and futures visible and actionable while obscuring others, underscoring the need for more reflexive research.