So a possible first step is to set up a preprint archive for that field

Arxiv accepts papers in any field. Researchers in medicine, chemistry, etc, just do not use it.

ADDED. Oops, I was wrong. From now on, I'll think more before I hit that "Comment" button. (I still think that setting up a preprint server has already been tried in all academic fields except for those where it was obvious that it would not work. Also, I am pretty sure that arxiv.org tried to extend into computer science but never got a sizeable fraction of the papers in that field.)