Integrated farming in Greece: a transition-to-sustainability perspective

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore the linking process between a niche and the regime in the context of an emergent transition, using the concepts of 'anchoring' and 'translation' embedded in the broader multi-level perspective. The case study concerns the transition of an intensive farming system, from subsidy oriented productivism, towards an integrated farming (IF) system focusing on the market, in the canned peach sector in Imathia, Northern Greece. The study revealed an anchored regime-triggered innovation, which resulted in the creation of a market niche within the incumbent regime. In this transition, all forms of anchoring are involved, and various forms of translation were encountered while a hybrid forum was identified, serving as the 'fertile ground' upon which all subsequent networking and translation activities took place. Research findings question a clear-cut analytical separation between the three levels of the multi-level perspective, as well as the relevance of a bottomup procedure as a prerequisite for niche emergence vis-à-vis policy induced change.

The Multi-Level Perspective in Research on Sustainability Transitions in Agriculture and Food Systems: A Systematic Review

“…Transitions towards organic agriculture and agroecology are prominent case studies in the selected articles. In fact, considered niches include agro-ecology [78][79][80][81], organic agriculture [82,83], permaculture [84], urban agriculture [59], conservation agriculture [85], integrated farming [86], care farming [87][88][89], alternative food networks [65,66,68,73] (Table 2).…”

“…Linking processes can involve networking niche actors and regime entities [127], reinvention and adaptation [105], translation [123], hybridization of niche experiments and regime practices in multi-actor forums [86,126]. Hauser and Lindtner [82] suggest that "increased cooperation with government officials and researchers, notably those who at first disbelieved in organic agriculture, enhanced the outreach of organic agriculture" (p. 176) in post-war Uganda.…”

“…Audet et al [65] Montreal seasonal food markets Canada Belmin et al [98] Geographical Indications France Feyereisen et al [99] Fair trade milk Belgium Hauser and Lindtner [82] Organic agriculture Uganda Isgren and Ness [78] Agroecology Uganda Jacobs et al [64] Phosphorus use Multi-country/North America Loconto and Barbier [100] Agriculture sustainability standards Undefined Meynard et al [74] Agri-food sector Multi-country Paschen et al [101] Privatised agricultural extension Australia Seoane and Marín [83] Organic apiculture Argentina Vivero-Pol [92] Food Multi-country Vlahos et al [86] Integrated peach farming Greece…”

Transition heuristic frameworks in research on agro-food sustainability transitions

“…Jacobs et al (2017) drew on MLP to develop transition pathways in North American phosphorus system. Vlahos et al (2017) pointed out that very often various transition paths unfold simultaneously rather than a single transition pathway. Although MLP is by far the most prominent transition framework also in agro-food sustainability transitions research field, some scholars highlight its inadequacy for understanding and nurturing agro-food sustainability transitions in some specific contexts.…”

“…Transition in MLP is considered as a regime change, but Ingram et al (2015) pointed out that "the transition to sustainable agriculture might be understood as a complex of interactive processes leading to a series of adaptive changes, rather than as regime change" (p. 55). Likewise, Vlahos et al (2017) questioned "clear-cut analytical separation between the three levels of the multilevel perspective, as well as the relevance of a bottom-up procedure as a prerequisite for niche emergence vis-à-vis policy induced change" (p. 43). Lawhon and Murphy (2012) formulated four critiques to MLP related to the way it addresses social and political relations, participation, geography and power.…”