Transforming Research and Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems—A Coupled-Systems Perspective

Kristiaan P. W. Kok, Alanya C. L. den Boer, Tomris Cesuroglu, Marjoleine G. van der Meij, Renée de Wildt-Liesveld, Barbara J. Regeer and Jacqueline E. W. Broerse
Additional contact information
Kristiaan P. W. Kok: Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Alanya C. L. den Boer: Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tomris Cesuroglu: Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Marjoleine G. van der Meij: Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Renée de Wildt-Liesveld: Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Barbara J. Regeer: Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jacqueline E. W. Broerse: Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 24, 1-23

Abstract: Current research and innovation (R&I) systems are not equipped to fully serve as catalysts for the urgently needed transformation of food systems. Though research on food systems transformation (first order: ‘what?’) and transformative research (second order: ‘how to’) are rapidly gaining traction in academic and policy environments, current efforts fail to explicitly recognize the systemic nature of the challenges associated with performing transformative second-order research. To recognize these manifold and interlinked challenges embedded in R&I systems, there is a need for a coupled-systems perspective. Transformations are needed in food systems as well as R&I systems (‘how to do the “how to”’). We set out to conceptualize an approach that aims to trigger double transformations by nurturing innovations at the boundaries of R&I systems and food systems that act upon systemic leverage points, so that their multisystem interactions can better support food system transformations. We exemplify this coupled-systems approach by introducing the FIT4FOOD2030 project with its 25 living labs as a promising multilevel boundary innovation at the cross-section of R&I and food systems. We illustrate how this approach paves the way for double systems transformations, and therefore for an R&I system that is fit for future-proofing food systems.

Keywords: food systems; complexity; sustainability transitions; societal transformation; transdisciplinarity; research and innovation; boundary innovations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/7176/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/7176/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7176-:d:298129

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().