Stephen Sherwood, Donald Cole and Charles Crissman have published an FFS article in the International Journal �Development in practice�. The article calls for breaking down disciplinary professional barriers in overcoming challenges to ecosystem health. Through reflection on a research and development project to address pesticide-related concerns in northern Ecuador, the article presents challenges encountered and accommodations made, ranging from staff recruitment, through baseline assessments and community education activities, to mobilizing for policy change. In so doing, it exposes underlying problems of paradigm and process inherent in bringing researchers and development practitioners together, in addition to the problematic role of advocacy that is associated with joint research and development initiatives in the fields of agriculture and health.

Correct citation: Sherwood, S., D. Cole and C. Crissman, 2007. Cultural encounters: learning from cross-disciplinary science and development practice over ecosystem health. Development in practice 17-2: 179-195.