How to Govern the Agroecological Transformation in Territories? – A Case Study of the Italian Autonomous Province of Trento

Agroecology, as an approach that applies ecological principles to agricultural systems while supporting fairness and justice in the food system, has received growing attention in Europe. When discussing the agroecological transformation of food systems, the redistribution of decision-making to the territorial scale is often cited as a key enabler of social and technical innovation adapted to local conditions. Consequently, the concept of agroecological territories (AETs) has gained prominence as a way to steer agroecological transformation driven by stakeholders at the local level by (i) adapting agricultural practices, (ii) preserving natural resources and biodiversity, and (iii) embedding the food system (Wetzel et al., 2016). Normative principles of agroecology that target governance aspects resemble ideas of collective action at the operational level to achieve the three domains highlighted above. However, the conceptualization of collective action among agroecological stakeholders, and the adjacent institutional and policy frameworks needed to foster this transformation, have so far received only limited attention. This study broadens the scope of analysis by placing the operational level in relation to the collective-choice and constitutional levels, arguing that the idea of agroecology resembles a normative polycentric governance approach. This is of dire need as the proposals of AETs, require a shift in the status-quo governance structures at collective-choice and constitutional levels. However, there is still a research gap regarding whether polycentricity actually emerges when diverse actors begin engaging in territorial food system transitions towards agroecology, whether such polycentricity is desirable, and what roles policies and institutions play in enabling collective action for agroecology. In territories where the agricultural sector plays a significant role in regional development and reflects an exceptionalist paradigm—where a tight group of beneficiaries and policy-makers shape agricultural policies—the idea of local administrations steering the development of AETs based on collective action among stakeholders requires further investigation. The Autonomous Province of Trento serves as a case study to examine these dynamics. The province is understood as a territory in which many diverse stakeholders operate in niches as they attempt to develop what can be regarded as an AET. Due to its autonomous status, agriculture falls within provincial competence, which could enable collective action. Nevertheless, as a territory with strong agricultural traditions, a cooperative-based monocultural landscape, a unique mountainous biophysical context, and a distinct local food culture, Trento illustrates tensions between status quo-oriented actors and innovation-driven stakeholders seeking to develop AETs. Accordingly, this study identifies the enablers and barriers to territorial-level change, understanding agroecological territories as multi-level, transitional, polycentric processes grounding itself in the theoretical foundations of New Institutional Economics. Specifically, it explores which governance arrangements and institutional configurations are emerging to enable collective action among local stakeholders in their territories, how these arrangements interact across scales, and how they are enabled or constrained by provincial, national, and European policy frameworks. The study aims to contribute to understanding territories as socio-ecological and institutional spaces that mediate competing visions, responsibilities, and power relations, and to offer insights for designing territorial governance that advances sustainable and just agroecological outcomes.