Critical systems thinking for managing complexity of food security

Valid Hasyimi, Utomo Sarjono Putro, Santi Novani and Agung Hendriadi

Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 2025, vol. 42, issue 6, 1731-1752

Abstract: Reductionist approaches, conventionally used to address the complexities of food security, successfully addressed production challenges throughout the 20th century. However, this approach met its limitations when addressing broader issues encompassing socio‐economic and sustainability. Additionally, this approach tends to equip us with reactive methods rather than prescriptive, while decision‐makers today are encouraged to take anticipatory plans and act quickly in any situation. This paper tries to manage the complexity of food security using critical system thinking to assist decision‐makers in choosing a system approach relevant to the issue. It started by presenting the evolution of food security complexity by documenting significant historical milestones in the global journey of global food security. Furthermore, we associate the outcomes of each milestone, in this case, the World Food Conference/Summit, in shaping the direction of the global research theme. We also interview stakeholders from government, businesses and NGOs to identify the complexity of food practices based on their perspectives. Lastly, we categorize food security issues into six types of complexity by referring to Jackson. We show how system of systems methodology (SOSM) can enable us to frame the complexity of food security into relevant categories equipped with suggested methods, thereby enabling the allocation of resources and time more effectively and efficiently.

Date: 2025
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