From Co-Learning to Shared Commitment to Agroecology. Some Insights from Initiatives Aimed at Reintroducing Agrobiodiversity

Agroecology represents a holistic approach in the transition to food system sustainability, integrating different dimensions, including knowledge creation, practices redefinition and social mobilisation. This study aims to explore the processes underlying the implementation of the agroecological approach and its transformative potential, focusing on the learning processes that lead to the development of new, shared systems of knowledge, values and beliefs, and to the growth of reflexivity and agency. It aims at deepening the understanding of these processes by analysing the reintroduction of agrobiodiversity in crop/food systems, considering this as a founding element of the agroecological model. Three initiatives located in Italy are investigated to that end. The study analyses role, mechanisms and potential of co-learning processes that develop within the multi-actor networks involved, uncovering enabling and hindering factors. It focuses on the role, reciprocal articulation and cumulative effects of three elements: actors involved and ways of interacting, types of knowledge mobilised and facilitation actions carried out. The findings highlight that the factors ensuring effectiveness of mutual learning, such as modes of actor interaction and, particularly, facilitation, are crucial. At the same time, the mechanisms that intervene seem increasingly complex, showing the need for deeper research and adequate forms of support

The transformative potential of social innovation. The case of wheat and bread value chain in Tuscany

The complexity of the transition to more sustainable food systems has taken multiple trajectories, differently driven and oriented. In this scenario, innovation pathways promoted at the grassroots level and based on collective action driven by social purposes appear to carry a strong transformative capacity. Considered as expressions of social innovation, their study has been approached through different theoretical frameworks. By referring to some of these, and in particular to the developments of transition theories, we analyse the innovation pathways involving the wheat-bread value chain in Tuscany (Italy). The analysis sheds light on the relevance of the nature of social innovation carried out by grassroots initiatives in their pursuing radical change aimed at deeply redefining production-consumption practices through social interaction, to meet socially shared needs and achieving several social benefits. The paper also analyses the factors and mechanisms underlying the change processes this innovation has triggered in the mainstream system, focusing on the so-called “anchoring” process. Through this analysis, the work aims at improving the understanding of the transformative potential of social innovation

The co-production of sustainability by learning networks. The case of reconstruction of knowledge and practices around bread production.

According to transition theories, a full adhesion to sustainability paradigm for agro- food system requires radical changes, addressed to redefine the whole socio-technical system underlying food production and consumption practices. Through them a complex re-organization of systems of knowledge, rules and norms of behaviour, and a re-design of the organisational and material infrastructures involved in production and consumption practices take place. Many grassroots initiatives, developing out of the conventional system and aimed at creating alterna- tives to it, are showing the potentials and also the challenges of this complex process of change. Interaction and learning processes developing within hybrid networks, including all the diverse actors engaged in the change, prove to be crucial to this process of innovation. Within these net- works actors mobilise their knowledge and create new frames of common understanding. This learning process results in shared knowledge which, translated into new attitudes and practices, allows a coherent re-configuration of all the components of the system, from the level of produc- tion to that of consumption. In this paper we aim at adopting this approach to deal with the innovation pathways that are af- fecting one of the agro-food chains which has been most transformed over the modernization of the agro-food system, the production of bread. In response to producers’ and consumers’ needs, in Italy this chain is at the centre of a myriad of local initiatives. Moving on a common trajectory of social innovation, they are committed to redefine genetic materials (through a different ap- proach to research), cultivation techniques and processing technologies (new knowledge and skills and appropriate equipment), organizational models (territorially and socially embedded), value chain (grounded on different shared values), cultural meanings. The learning processes that drive these changes stem from the interaction that develops among a variety of social and institu- tional actors. The analysis develops through a case study on a specific learning network in Tuscany. On the background of the multiple changes involved within the whole chain, an in-depth analysis of the aspects which interest the reorganization of the production phase allows to highlight the chal- lenges to be tackled in order to fully pursue sustainability

Community biodiversity management. An analysis of Community Seed Banks in Europe.

Increasing agrobiodiversity is a necessary condition for sustainability of food systems, in terms of resilience of agroecosystems and proper diet. Hand in hand with the development of a multi-actor and multi- dimensional approach to agrobiodiversity management, there has been an evolution of the ways to address it, when conceiving, analysing, promoting, running and supporting these processes. This has led to look at agrobiodiversity management as a dynamic process, centred on the role of farmers and communities (community biodiversity management). This perspective introduces new opportunities in terms of farmer empowerment and strengthening of local food systems. Within this new paradigm a key role can be played by Community Seed Banks (CSBs), as intermediate actors between ex situ and on farm systems, facilitating access to plant genetic resources by farmers and promoting innovation processes at local level, through participatory and decentralised plant breeding. The EU research project DIVERSIFOOD has been working on multi-actor and participatory approaches to agrobiodiversity dynamic management since 2015, focussing also on the role of CSBs in Europe and the dynamics underlying their development. This paper investigates these dynamics, analysing the processes through which these initiatives are set up by local multi-actor networks, how they function and the challenges they have to face. CSBs represent potential alternative systems to the management of seeds/varieties, but need to be recognised and supported in their role. The paper draws on the empirical material provided by a survey of 84 initiatives and on the results of two workshops with representatives of the initiatives

Food networks: collective action and local development. The role of organic farming as boundary object

This article aims at analyzing the innovation potential of a local food network, which sees different actors that cooperate to build a local organic food production-provision system and progressively develop a broader mobilization on food issues, health and sustainability. The case analyzed is that of Crisoperla, an association located in Italy, between Tuscany and Liguria, which involves organic farmers, social farming and fishermen cooperatives, consumers’ groups and association and agronomists. The analysis is based on the empirical data collected in the 3-year European project SOLINSA (FP7, 2011–2014). The focus is on the role of organic farming and organic food as a boundary object, a binder element around which actors involved work in order to develop common visions, languages and goals and organize their activities. These processes are, in fact, at the basis of the organizational consolidation of the association as well as of the growth of its political awareness and its willingness and capacity to interact with the outside both at local and higher levels

Guidance Document and Considerations for the Marketing of Biodiverse Food Products

The prevailing food supply chains are characterised by a highly standardised food offer produced in an impoverished agricultural system. The loss of diversity in food production is not only a loss of crop species and varieties but also a loss of taste, culture and knowledge and adaptability to a changing environment. This booklet is intended to contribute to a transformation of this system by supporting the use of the biological diversity of cultures. It aims at supporting practitioners that want to enhance crop genetic diversity in agricultural systems and increase the link between consumers and producers. Moreover, the booklet contains a compilation of all the lessons learned from the valorisation of crop genetic diversity during the European research project DIVERSIFOOD - Embedding crop di-versity and networking for local, high-quality food systems. Based on a comprehensive, multi-actor and systemic approach developed by Rossi et al. (2016), supply chains built around bio-diverse products were analysed (Padel et al., 2018). In addition, information was gathered about strategies to communicate the added value of a product to consumers (Holzherr et al., 2018), and in four European countries, an online consumer survey was conducted (Meier & Oehen 2018). The main result of the project is that the valorisation of biodiverse products requires the in-volvement of all actors along the supply chain from breeder to consumer, their appreciation of the value of plant genetic diversity and their willingness and engagement to adapt their practices. The most important lesson from DIVERSIFOOD is therefore that the development of food diversity consists of different people with complementary skills gathering together and striving for more diversity in the food system

Towards a network around civic agriculture in the Province of Pisa

This paper aims at exploring the pathway towards the creation of a network around the principles of civic agriculture in the Province of Pisa (Tuscany, Italy). The research is part of the process towards a local Food Plan, aimed at coordinating public policies, civil society and private initiatives, to foster the access to a healthy and sustainable diet. In this context, the experiences of civic agriculture have played an important role, highlighting the centrality of agriculture in the animation of rural areas and in the rural-urban relationship and becoming a point of intersection amongst several vital areas for local communities. The research methods consisted in a first monitoring of civic agriculture experiences, a second round of in-depth interviews and in a more targeted focus group. The research has confirmed the presence of an expressed willingness to create a network of farms engaged on issues of sustainable food and sustainable local development. However, some critical points emerged with respect to the process of network building. Brokerage activities appear crucial to reinforce the relationships amongst the farmers and civil and institutional actors engaged in food related issues

Toolkit to foster multi-actor research on agrobiodiversity

This toolkit provides building blocks to help create a multi-actor approach to participatory and collaborative plant breeding, and action-research for high quality food systems. It results from the wide range of experience acquired during the Diversifood project to boost cultivated diversity for organic and low-input agriculture and from the collective reflection of all the partners of the project. The toolkit does not simply provides recipes to apply but illustrates some common prerequisites and traits that emerge in multi-actor projects. In other words, the toolkit proposes strategic «building blocks» to support the successful implementation of the approach. The building blocks have emerged from the feedback provided by Diversifood partners, based on their experiences, as well as from the literature

The Food Council of Pisa

The need for a transition to more sustainable food systems has made the definition of more integrated and advanced forms of management of food-related issues increasingly urgent, especially in the urban contexts. As for many other cities around the world, also in the territory of Pisa (Tuscany, Italy), since 2010 a process aimed at developing an integrated food strategy has been promoted (the Food Plan of the province of Pisa). In the context of new reflexivity and mobilization created by the process for the definition and implementation of the Plan, in 2013 a group of citizens, researchers and professionals established the Food Council of Pisa, an organization aimed at stimulating a reflection on the food-related issues at urban level and at promoting an integrated approach to their management. The Council started to operate identifying some specific areas of action, establishing relationships with the various initiatives carried out by local civil society, and trying to interact with public administrations