The politics of sustainable transformation in agri-food policy: reform dynamics, resilience and post-exceptionalist modes of governance

Agri-food policies are often the target of criticism for doing too little to encourage and facilitate the farm and food sector to transforming to sustainable production, processing and consumption and to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030. Recent years have seen new political demands to respond to multiple crises and risks facing the agri-food sector such as climate change (SDG 13), bio-diversity (SDG 15), water pollution (SDG 6) and antimicrobial resistance (SDG 3). However, often the policy measures adopted to address these issues fall short of delivering the expected impacts. The new policy agendas in the agri-food sector have resulted in new domestic and global policy actors being mobilized, new alliances being formed, and new ideas being brought into cross-sectoral governance. At the same time, policies have displayed a significant degree of continuity at the level of underlying agricultural policy paradigms and policy discourses. The exceptionalist legacy still sticks in the form of post-exceptionalism. The concept of post-exceptionalism denotes a partial transformation in which an exceptionalist policy sector has not been completely ‘normalized’ and in which old and new ideas, institutions, interests and policy instruments coexist. The theoretical challenge remains to identify and conceptualize the dynamics of the partial transformation process characterizing post-exceptionalism in times of crisis. A defining feature of policy measures aimed at addressing unsustainable food production, processing or consumption is cross-sectoral policy and governance arrangements, involving inter-linkages with other policy domains such as environment and climate change, energy, water, public health, animal welfare, bio-technology, development, trade, security, international politics, and migration. While causing threats to sustainability, food systems also face transboundary threats, ranging from climate change and extreme weather conditions to transboundary diseases, increased migration and urbanization. Agri-food technology change promises benefits for addressing such threats, but simultaneously fuels new sector interlinkages and nexus governance challenges and, ultimately, the rise of new and potentially contested modes of governance. There is a need for theoretical and empirical research on the dynamics of policy change, the relationships among the components of cross-sectoral governance arrangements, their potential for policy integration resulting in coordinated and coherent sets of policies. This section invites papers on four sub-topics: 1. Exploring reform dynamics and outcomes Panel Chairs: Gerry Alons (Radboud University) and Carsten Daugbjerg (University of Copenhagen) Agricultural and food policies have been subject to reform over the last three decades. This is the result of changed priorities within civil society, increased mobilization of and access for a wider range of interests with respect to food governance, and augmented salience of aspects of agricultural and food policies. Moreover, current reform dynamics have to deal with increasing nationalist sentiments and geo-political considerations, such as international dependencies which make food yet again a strategic product. Under this sub-topic, we welcome papers addressing reform dynamics in past and ongoing reform efforts (e.g. the recent CAP reform): How can we explain elements of continuity and change? How do experiences with previous policies feed back into current reform dynamics? 2. Resilience in agricultural policy and food governance Panel Chair(s): Peter Feindt (Humboldt-Univeristät) and Jale Tosun (University of Heidelberg) A broad range of challenges at various spatial and temporal scales – including climate change, structural changes in economic systems, bio-security issues, demographic change and urbanisation – have pushed concerns about the resilience of agri-food systems to the centre of agri-food policy. This sub-topic addresses the issue of resilience at different levels: resilience of food governance and policy instruments; farming systems and farming practices; and the broader bio-economy. Which dimensions of resilience are at stake and to what extent? Are existing systems robust? Where is adaptation or even transformation required and how is this facilitated or inhibited by the increasing salience of the resilience concept and the ‘bio-economy’ perspective? We invite papers that combine conceptual reflections and empirical insights to address this debate. 3. Governing sustainability and technological change in food systems Panel Chairs: Sandra Schwindenhammer (Justus Liebig University Giessen) and Colette Vogeler (University of Speyer) Agriculture and food systems are under constant pressure to adapt to changing environmental conditions, in particular related to the consequences of climate change, as well as to changing societal and consumers demands. The adaptation to both challenges requires the design of more sustainable agricultural practices and food systems. One pathway towards more sustainable food systems is the integration of new technologies and the exploitation of digitalization opportunities. Especially the latter are, however, not undisputed. The panel aims at deepening the understanding of how policymakers in different countries and under different conditions govern these transformation processes at the intersection of sustainability and technological change. 4. Local policy pathways to sustainable food systems Panel chairs: Giulia Bazzan (University of Copenhagen) and Daniel Polman (Wageningen University) Over the last two decades, there has been an increasing focus on the unsustainability of the current food system. The food system has to be transformed, both in terms of production and consumption, in order to reduce waste and conserve biodiversity while adapting to and mitigating impacts of climate change. Urban spaces and local communities are crucial arenas where such transition is being shaped, involving actors who have not traditionally engaged in developing food policies. Urban food governance structures have more room to be innovative and develop integrated policies. How and when do food-related issues emerge on the local policy agenda? What elements of the food system are being addressed by policymaking? Which actors drive these changes? And which factors explain local successes, and how can others learn from this? We welcome contributions focusing on local and urban pathways to more sustainable food systems through a plurality of methods and approaches.