On the Way to More Resilient Agricultural and Food Systems: Findings from the Study of Grassroots Initiatives in 14 countries

In the face of the environmental impact of food systems, climate change, and increasing societal demands for the provision of public goods, it is becoming increasingly clear that we need a systemic change in agricultural and food systems. Based on evidence from case studies in 14 countries we explore in this paper the grassroots level (green, social, institutional) innovations meant to support the related transitions. In many case studies, new forms of civic and/or collaborative engagement and multi-actor coalitions as well as the related innovations in governance systems play a role as catalysts. The database for this paper comes from the transdisciplinary RETHINK project (2013-2016) funded by the European Commission and funding bodies in 14 countries. The project set out to investigate how farms, communities and rural regions perceive and respond to the systemic challenges they are facing. Through 14 case studies, the project has investigated the strategies deployed by farmers and other rural actors in their efforts to maintain their quality of life and ensure continuity, not least through adapting and transforming in response to new challenges, opportunities and broader societal changes. Our analysis and discussion will cover four main areas. First, the almost impossible expectation that farmers need to cope with the reduction and volatility of producer prices on global markets whilst using more environmentally sustainable practices and ensuring public goods provision. Second, the concentration of production in some regions or on some farms that is directly linked to the marginalisation of others. We argue that the 14 cases are, in very different ways, indicative of a shift towards agricultural and food systems that are resilient, balanced, equitable and inclusive, and that the current one-sided emphasis on economic performance, competitiveness and growth in mainstream agricultural institutions is counterproductive as it further disadvantages the most marginalised. Third, we found that there is much to be learned from local farmer-driven innovations. Farmers focus on efficiently using the resources available to them and build on location-specific experiential knowledge. Yet, their initiatives and this knowledge are not sufficiently taken into account by agricultural (knowledge) institutions. What is needed are networks that facilitate inclusive modes of knowledge generation, integration and sharing. And fourthly, informal networks can balance different interests and approaches, which is essential for resilient, balanced, equitable and inclusive development strategies. This requires strengthening the capacity of local government agencies and stakeholders to adapt and transform. Our analysis is strongly influenced by works such as ‘Prosperity without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet’ by Tim Jackson (2009), ‘The Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress Revisited’ by Joseph Stiglitz et al. (2009), and the OECD’s (2012) ‘Environmental Outlook to 2050: The Consequences of Inaction’. Overall, the 14 case studies show that grassroots initiatives and pilot programmes are already generating a wealth of experiences and knowledge which could be fruitfully used to inform higher-level policy development.