Food policy networks and their potential to stimulate systemic intermediation for food system transformation

Boer, Alanya C.L. den; Valk, A.J.J. van der; Regeer, B.J.; Broerse, Jacqueline E W

doi:10.1016/j.cities.2023.104239

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This is critical because, invariably, within a transdisciplinary project, academics and external stakeholders alike are taken out of their comfort zones and may revert to traditional ways of thinking and operating, which undermines transdisciplinarity. Consistent and communicative leadership can address these issues (den Boer et al, 2023;Klein, 2008;Polk, 2015).…”

Section: Leadershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transdisciplinarity: an imperative for information behaviour research

Polkinghorne,

Bowell,

Given

2024

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Introduction. Information behaviour research must be methodologically and conceptually sophisticated to generate knowledge reflecting the complexities of information engagement in people’s lives. Information behaviour research can be enriched by the concept of transdisciplinarity — a collaborative approach addressing complex societal problems, with actionable research outcomes. Method. In-depth analysis traces the emergence of transdisciplinary research design. The paper then examines selected information science studies that possess strong transdisciplinary qualities, including those grounded in community-based approaches and centred on people’s experiences who have been marginalised by mainstream research. The paper then discusses opportunities for, and challenges to, increased transdisciplinarity in information behaviour. Results. Information behaviour research is well positioned to embrace transdisciplinarity, although this approach has yet to see widespread uptake. Transdisciplinary approaches present information science, generally, with a timely, multifaceted opportunity to adopt research designs that centre community, government, and/or industry stakeholders, which aligns well with the practice-oriented, interdisciplinary nature of the field. Conclusion. This paper brings a theoretical conceptualisation of transdisciplinarity in relation to information science, focusing primarily on information behaviour research. It expands on the importance of collaboration, innovation, and cross-disciplinarity, and proposes strategies for bridging information science research into more critical investigations of information activities in contemporary society.

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Section: Leadershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transdisciplinarity: an imperative for information behaviour research

Polkinghorne,

Bowell,

Given

2024

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The roles and dynamics of transition intermediaries in enabling sustainable public food procurement: insights from Spain

Gaitán-Cremaschi,

Valbuena,

Klerkx

2024

Agric Hum Values

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Sustainable Public Food Procurement (SPFP) is gaining recognition for its potential to improve the sustainability of food systems and promote healthier diets. However, SPFP faces various challenges, including coordination issues, actor dynamics, infrastructure limitations, unsustainable habits, and institutional resistance, among others. Drawing upon insights from the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) on socio-technical transitions and the X-curve model on transition dynamics, this study investigates the role of transition intermediaries in facilitating SPFP-induced transformations in food systems. Focusing on four case studies in Spain, we identify common barriers encountered in SPFP and analyse how distinct types of transition intermediaries contribute individually and collectively to address these challenges. Additionally, we explore how intermediary networks evolve throughout different phases of the transition process. Our findings reveal that SPFP barriers are systemic and interconnected, emphasizing the necessity of collective intermediation to overcome these obstacles. Furthermore, our results reveal how collective intermediation is orchestrated by pivotal intermediaries who mobilize diverse transition intermediaries, shaping multiple transition pathways. These intermediaries operate at both food system regimes and niches, challenging the conventional notion that transformative change can only originate from niche efforts. Lastly, we highlight the dynamic and flexible nature of intermediation in SPFP transitions, underscoring the importance of adaptability in strategies as these transitions evolve over time. Practical implications include the need for context-specific, adaptive approaches and strategies that leverage intermediary diversity. This research offers insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars into SPFP and broader transitions towards food systems transformation, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of these transition processes.

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Mapping lock-ins and enabling environments for agri-food sustainability transitions in Europe

Williams,

Bürgi,

Debonne

et al. 2024

Sustain Sci

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European agri-food systems must overcome structural lock-ins to achieve more sustainable modes of production and consumption. Yet European regions are highly diverse, and we lack understanding of how different regional characteristics may enable or inhibit sustainability transitions. This hinders the development of context-tailored governance strategies. In this paper, we identify and apply sets of spatial indicators to map the regional potentials for agri-food transitions. We first analyse the strength of lock-in to the incumbent agro-industrial paradigm. We then map the enabling environments for two alternative agri-food networks—multifunctional value chains and civic food networks—that each embed distinct social–ecological qualities of agriculture and food. Results demonstrate a large spatial diversity in transition potential, with stronger lock-ins throughout North and Western Europe and stronger enabling environments for agri-food transitions in Italy, France, Switzerland, and Southwest Germany. We find that lock-ins are strongest in livestock-dominated regions and are associated with higher GHG emissions and excess nitrogen levels. Our study demonstrates the need for coordinated public policies that (1) leverage region-specific transition potentials and (2) enable complementary innovations in market-based and community-led networks.

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Food policy networks and their potential to stimulate systemic intermediation for food system transformation

Cited by 5 publications

References 50 publications

Transdisciplinarity: an imperative for information behaviour research

Transdisciplinarity: an imperative for information behaviour research

The roles and dynamics of transition intermediaries in enabling sustainable public food procurement: insights from Spain

Mapping lock-ins and enabling environments for agri-food sustainability transitions in Europe

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