Design and Implementation of a Workshop for Evaluation of the Role of Power in Shaping and Solving Challenges in a Smart Foodshed

Ayaz Hyder, Angela Blatt, Allan D. Hollander, Casey Hoy, Patrick R. Huber, Matthew C. Lange, James F. Quinn, Courtney M. Riggle, Ruth Sloan and Thomas P. Tomich
Additional contact information
Ayaz Hyder: College of Public Health and Translational Data Analytics Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Angela Blatt: Initiative for Food and AgriCultural Transformation, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Allan D. Hollander: Food Systems Lab, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Casey Hoy: Agroecosystems Management Program, Department of Entomology, Initiative for Food and AgriCultural Transformation, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
Patrick R. Huber: Food Systems Lab, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Matthew C. Lange: International Center for Food Ontology Operability Data and Semantics (IC-FOODS), Davis, CA 95616, USA
James F. Quinn: Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Courtney M. Riggle: Food Systems Lab, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Ruth Sloan: College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Thomas P. Tomich: Food Systems Lab, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Current studies on data sharing via data commons or shared vocabularies using ontologies mainly focus on developing the infrastructure for data sharing yet little attention has been paid to the role of power in data sharing among food system stakeholders. Stakeholders within food systems have different interpretations of the types and magnitudes of their own and other’s level of power to solve food system challenges. Politically neutral, yet scientifically/socioeconomically accurate power classification systems are yet to be developed, and must be capable of enumerating and characterizing what power means to each stakeholder, existing power dynamics within the food system, as well as alternative forms of power not currently utilized to their full capacity. This study describes the design and implementation of a workshop, which used methods from community-based participatory modeling, to examine the role of power relative to data sharing and equitable health outcomes. Workshop participants co-created several boundary objects that described the power relationships among food system stakeholders and the changes needed to current power relationships. Our results highlight current imbalances in power relationships among food system stakeholders. The information we collected on specific relationships among broad categories of stakeholders highlighted needs for initiatives and activities to increase the types and varieties of power especially across consumers, farmers, and labor stakeholder groups. Furthermore, by utilizing this workshop methodology, food system stakeholders may be able to envision new power relationships and bring about a fundamental re-orienting of current power relationships capable of valorizing food system sustainability/resiliency, especially the health of its workers and consumers.

Keywords: power relationships; food system; foodshed; community engagement; ontology; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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