MAKING REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS MORE SUSTAINABLE

This paper analyses and compares regional food systems in Latvia and Lithuania from the perspective of sustainable food security and poses three questions: (i) what are the general food system characteristics and drivers of change in Latvia and Lithuania? (ii) how are the regional food systems constructed and performing? (iii) what are the conditions and pathways for regional food systems to become more sustainable?  The paper examines in-depth the food systems in two regions – Pierīga region in Latvia and Vilnius region in Lithuania. The research is carried out within the framework of the EU projects TRANSMANGO and SALSA, and the Latvian Council of Sciences project SINFO. We find that food chain concentration and the interests of big food industries and retailers drive food systems in Latvia and Lithuania while civic and consumer-driven initiatives are becoming more important in stimulating a transition towards sustainable diets. The regional food systems are a complex intertwinement between the agro-industrial, proximity, domestic, and ecological subsystems. The pathways towards more sustainable regional food systems are difficult to negotiate and enforce as they require collaboration among various stakeholders who have different agendas. The long-term prospects of the regional food systems in terms of social and economic sustainability cannot be viewed in isolation from the demographic trends in the region, the steady depopulation in rural areas and efforts in strengthening urban-rural synergies

Actions to strengthen the contribution of small farms and small food businesses to food security in Europe

This study stems from a participatory foresight exercise conducted in nine Mediterranean, Baltic, Nordic and Eastern European regions, aiming to strengthen the role of small farms and small food businesses in ensuring food security. A wide range of stakeholders participated by attending workshops. They represented farmers’ organisations, food businesses, consumers’ organisations, NGOs, researchers, extension services, professional groups, and administration and public bodies. The actions proposed by participants are scanned and categorised around six broad objectives, stakeholders’ priorities and their underlying beliefs and preconceptions are discussed around the current debates of the literature, and the drivers that influence the feasibility of the proposed actions are discussed. Furthermore, the alignment of stakeholders’ -driven objectives with the European Strategies on food, agriculture, and rural areas is examined, with a focus on: (i) the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, (ii) the Rural Action Plan contained in the Long-Term Vision of Rural Areas developed by the EU Commission, and (iii) the Common Agricultural Policy in force since January 2023

Rural innovation: Construction of new development practices. Case of Latvian organic agriculture.

Lauku inovācija: jaunu attīstības prakšu veidošana. Bioloģiskās lauksaimniecības piemērs Disertācija veltīta lauku inovācijas izpētei ar mērķi noskaidrot, kā tiek veidotas jaunas attīstības prakses. Darba teorētiskais ietvars balstās sociālajā konstrukcionismā un specifiski aģentu tīkla teorijā, kas uzsver aģentu aktīvu lomu realitātes veidošanā. Izmantojot Latvijas bioloģisko lauksaimniecību kā inovācijas piemēru gadījuma izpētē, inovācija analizēta kā jauna sociāli tehniska tīkla konstruēšana. Uz izpētes pamata secināts, ka inovācija ir daudzdimensionāla prakse, kurā savijas tehnoloģiskas, sociālas, ekonomiskas, politiskas un zināšanu stratēģijas. Tā īstenojas pastāvīgās organizētās aģentu mijiedarbībās specifiskos konteksta apstākļos, kurus tā atjauno vai pārveido. Inovācijas ilgtspējas veidošana izpaužas kā aģentu tīkla organizatoriska, institucionāla un materiāli tehniska nostiprināšana. Atslēgvārdi: inovācija, aģentu tīkls, lauku attīstība, bioloģiskā lauksaimniecībaRural innovation: Construction of new development practices. Case of Latvian organic agriculture The doctoral thesis is devoted to the exploration of rural innovation. It aims at understanding how new development practices are constructed. The theoretical framework of the research is based on social constructivism and particularly on actor network theory that stresses the active role of agents in the construction of social reality. Drawing on the case study of organic agriculture in Latvia, the innovation is analysed as a construction of a new socio-technical network. On the base of the research it is concluded that innovation is a multidimensional practice where technological, social, economic, political and knowledge strategies are intertwinned. It happens in ongoing agents’ interactions in specific contextual conditions which are then resumed or transformed by innovation. The durability of innovation is reached in organisational, institutional and material consolidation of the network. Key words: innovation, actor network, rural development, organic agricultur

The role of multi-actor governance in aligning farm modernization and sustainable rural development

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Lost in a haze or playing to partners’ strengths? Learning to collaborate in three transdisciplinary European Living Labs

The ability to learn from each other plays a central role in successful transdisciplinary (TD) collaboration. This article systematically investigates how learning to collaborate allows researchers and practitioners to navigate the challenges of collaborative TD work. Drawing on social learning theory, we emphasise the processual nature of social learning in TD research as learning to collaborate. We examine collaborative learning processes in three Living Labs located in different socio-cultural and institutional contexts in Europe. The Living Labs explored the conditions for mutually beneficial rural-urban relations. We use data from a systematic monitoring of a 4-year Horizon 2020 research project. Our analysis illustrates how learning in and through collaboration can enhance individual and collective capacities to deal with different perspectives, priorities, and approaches, enabling the achievement of transformative objectives. We also show how particular factors and conditions lead to differing learning histories and a lack of attention to learning processes may result in challenges to collaboration. This provides a more encompassing understanding of the complex learning dynamics underpinning TD research. We argue that an intentional focus on collaborative learning processes is essential to fulfil the aspiration of TD research to contribute to creating knowledge and capacities for the co-production of sustainable futures.Peer reviewe

Local and Farmers' Knowledge Matters! How Integrating Informal and Formal Knowledge Enhances Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture

The widespread transformations in farming practices during recent decades across many parts of Europe – increased capital intensity, scale enlargement, specialization, intensification and mechanization have been accompanied by a quite dramatic shift towards more standardized agricultural information and knowledge. Previous research reveals that transition towards more sustainable agriculture requires a new knowledge base, with new content and forms of knowledge and new processes of learning. In this paper, we explore the relevance of informal farmer knowledge and learning practices in constructing alternative pathways in sustainable agriculture and strengthening agricultural resilience. It is based on 11 case studies carried out within the international RETHINK research programme. The cases reveal the diversity of knowledge sources and learning forms that farmers use and the particular role of farmers’ experience-based knowledge. Farmers greatly value local experiential knowledge as they see it as having practical, personal and local relevance. Given the limitations of more standardized information and knowledge, and the urgent need for a transition towards more sustainable and resource-efficient practices, we argue that the potential of local farmer knowledge is not being optimally used and that a better integration of various forms of knowledge is needed. We identify several ways in which different kinds of knowledge can be integrated. For the individual farmer this can be done by synthesising knowledge from different sources. It can also be done through farmer networking – whether or not facilitated by formal agricultural knowledge institutions, through collaboration between farmers and researchers as knowledge co-generators, and through multi-actor knowledge networks that bring together participants from various fields. We conclude that the dynamic contexts, complexity and the local specificity of the current challenges facing agriculture and the many roles it is being asked to fulfil require more inclusive, flexible modes of governing the generation, integration and sharing of knowledge. All stakeholders, including farmers, need to be recognised as equal co-authors of knowledge generation, and all kinds of knowledge, both formal and informal, need be brought together in innovation processes. Knowledge networking and multi-actor knowledge networks that facilitate knowledge exchanges, joint learning and the generation of new more integrated solutions, are crucial if agriculture is to become sustainable and resilient