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The role of transdisciplinary research in the transformation of food systems

2021; Springer Nature; Volume: 9; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1186/s40100-021-00207-2

2193-7532

Gérald Schwarz, Francesco Vanni, David Miller,

Innovation, Sustainability, Human-Machine Systems

Over time, prevailing food systems have led to the depletion of resources and to negative environmental impacts (Rockström et al. 2020).The excessive use of agro-chemicals, heavy machinery, water, and the increasing reliance on fossil fuels in general have contributed to destabilizing the ecosystem processes which are the basis of agricultural production.Intensification and greater homogeneity of agro-ecosystems has led to an increasing dependence on external inputs.Food systems are responsible for one-third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and are shaped by multidimensional and increasingly asymmetric power relations.The concentration of land and power in the hands of large business enterprises can lead to small-scale food producers abandoning agriculture.A radical transformation is needed in farm practices and in human diets to avoid the exhaustion of ecosystems services (Brunori et al. 2020).However, such transformations should be just to all actors in the value chain, from those providing the inputs to the production process, through to the consumer.The concept of a "just transition" (achieving environmental sustainability along with decent work, social inclusion and poverty eradication) is gaining traction in international policy discourses.It is a significant concept in relation to the aim of the EU Green Deal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and in the EU Long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas, which highlights the "need for ensuring rights and responsibilities of all actors in just transitions" to sustainable food systems.Research should play a central role in accompanying this radical transformation, by explaining to policy-makers and citizens the reasons for more sustainable, balanced, and fair food systems, the barriers to them being achieved, and where and what risks arise for communities of interest and of place.Research should be supported and guided by well-functioning AKISs, which are central in structuring knowledge exchange, fostering innovation, and will be important in supporting transformative changes of food systems.In the design and facilitation of just transitions of food systems, the interests and values of different types of actors, power imbalances, and the scale dynamics of transformation processes all need to be taken into account.To identify and understand such requirements for a just transition, a transdisciplinary approach is increasingly advocated and supported by funders, end users of research, and scientists working