Four critical conditions for agroecological transitions in Europe

Runhaar, Hens

doi:10.1080/14735903.2021.1906055

Cited by 23 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…This also helps to better understand the position of farmer-entrepreneurs within sustainable food entrepreneurship. Our paper discusses their difficult position, which is also well established in the literature on the sustainability transformation of food which shows that farming is becoming increasingly very complex and consists of a plethora of tasks and responsibilities (Triste et al, 2020) whilst facing several obstacles such as debts and sunken investments (Runhaar, 2021). As our paper shows, farmers often have little time or money left to actively engage in sustainable food entrepreneurship, e.g.…”

Section: Implications Of the Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 70%

Food systems in transition: conceptualizing sustainable food entrepreneurship

Gaast

Leeuwen

Wertheim-Heck

2021

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

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This paper presents the sustainable food entrepreneurship framework (SFEF). It aims to further the understanding of the role of entrepreneurship in the sustainability transition of the food system, especially in the context of food system relocalization. The framework conceptualizes sustainable food entrepreneurship as a cyclical ongoing process of change. We argue this enables transcending the behaviour of entrepreneurs and their enterprises and map the ongoing development they fit into. The framework is based on literature reviews and expert interviews in the Dutch city-region of Almere-Flevoland. Theoretically, it expands on effectuation and bricolage theory, i.e. the 'resourcefulness perspective', that centres the socio-material context in the entrepreneurial process. The framework assumes the uncertainty of sustainability incites a cyclical process of change and implores entrepreneurs to reflect on the past before imagining the future. These imagined futures must be fitted to the socio-material context before emerging as artefacts (e.g. products, services or firms), which incites new uncertainties and a new cycle of change. Our framework has implications for policy and science. Its temporal dimension, that accentuates the continuous change entrepreneurship spurs, incites a reevaluation of terms such as 'success' and 'failure'. Moreover, it stresses the importance of intermediary actors in facilitating entrepreneurship.

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Section: Implications Of the Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 70%

Food systems in transition: conceptualizing sustainable food entrepreneurship

Gaast

Leeuwen

Wertheim-Heck

2021

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

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“…The farmer collective should be able to achieve more agrobiodiversity if . It has a common and shared strategy for agrobiodiversity, consisting of an aspiration, goals and execution strategy (Runhaar, 2021 (Schomers et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The category of organizational professionalization is related to the organization itself (internal) and is about the strategy, structure and systems of the organization (Dowling et al, 2014). The first characteristic of a professional organization is to have a strategic plan consisting of a clear strategy, a collective aspiration, goals and strategy (addressing the Why, Where, What and How of an organization) (Dowling et al, 2014;Ferkins et al, 2005;Runhaar, 2021;Suarez, 2011;Weggeman, 1992). This strategic plan is based on shared values of the organization's board members, paid staff, volunteers and participants and is intended to create shared ownership (collective sense of strategy) (Ferkins et al, 2005;Shilbury & Ferkins, 2011;Weggeman, 1992).…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Category Of Organizational Professionalizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmer collectives for more effective agri-environmental schemes? An assessment framework based on the concept of ‘professionalization’

Dik

Runhaar

Termeer

2021

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

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Agri-environmental schemes (AESs) have been implemented in many countries in Europe. However, there is mixed evidence about their effectiveness. Several studies in different countries suggest that AESs are more effective when designed at landscape level and implemented by groups of collaborating farmers ('farmer collectives'). The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has enabled groups of farmers to be applicants for and final beneficiaries of AESs subsidies for the period 2015-2020, but it is unclear what is needed for farmer collectives engaged in AESs to contribute to more agrobiodiversity. In this paper, the lens of 'professionalization' is used to conceptualize and operationalize the performance of farmer collectives. We have developed an assessment framework that facilitates the characterization and development of the degree of professionalization of farmer collectives. The ultimate aim is achieving ecological effectiveness of AESs by professionalization of the farmer collectives. The framework distinguishes three categories of professionalization: organizational, occupational and systemic, and provides a new lens for research on AESs. It can also be used by practitioners involved in AESs to provide insight into, and reflect upon, the performance of farmer collectives.

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“…Agriculture is also of crucial importance with regard to climate change, one of the greatest threats to both humans and the environment; in addition to its high vulnerability because of extreme and unpredicted weather conditions that increase water scarcity, agriculture contributes up to 14% of greenhouse gas emissions [8][9][10][11][12]. Against this background and taking into account the inherent relationship between water and land use, agriculture plays a key role in the global task of guaranteeing water supply from a sustainability perspective [13][14][15][16]. The importance of agriculture in meeting the demand of an evergrowing population relies on the search for and implementation of a successful, lasting and sustainable water source to irrigate crops [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ Attitudes towards Irrigating Crops with Reclaimed Water in the Framework of a Circular Economy

et al. 2022

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In a global situation where water constraints are a daily concern and expected to worsen in the upcoming years, finding new water alternatives to guarantee its supply is of critical importance. Against this background, reclaimed water has proved to be a sustainable alternative that recycles wastewater from a circular economy approach, thus enhancing water availability for key sectors such as agriculture. In such a context where public policies should encourage the implementation of this sustainable resource that helps reduce climate change by allowing wastewater reuse, there is too often a lack of knowledge of farmers’ perceptions, thus resulting in them being ineffective. In this sense, studying and analyzing agriculturalists’ perceptions is of interest for the development of appropriate policies that truly foster reclaimed water use in agriculture and enhance its shift from waste to resource. For this research 231 farmers, both long-time users of reclaimed water and non-users, were surveyed to find common and differing attitudes and perceptions. Results show how once farmers start irrigating their crops with this alternative resource there is a marked improvement in their opinion. The high price is the most widespread barrier, which can be tempered with public subsidies that absorb part of this cost. The insights obtained from this research may be of interest to other regions, especially for those in arid and semi-arid climates where water scarcity is a critical problem and sustainability a growing concern.

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Four critical conditions for agroecological transitions in Europe

Cited by 23 publications

References 33 publications

Food systems in transition: conceptualizing sustainable food entrepreneurship

Food systems in transition: conceptualizing sustainable food entrepreneurship

Farmer collectives for more effective agri-environmental schemes? An assessment framework based on the concept of ‘professionalization’

Farmers’ Attitudes towards Irrigating Crops with Reclaimed Water in the Framework of a Circular Economy

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