Institutional analysis of food and agriculture policy in the Caribbean : the case of Saint Lucia

This paper explores how various dimensions of social capital have evolved and been influenced by institutional dynamics in Saint Lucia's domestic agri-food system. Economic and political power was concentrated in the hands of the minority ‘White planter class’ formal governance systems pre-1950, and can still be characterized as monocentric. Research findings support the view that the plantation institution had a strong influence on the export (formal) and domestic (informal) agri-food systems in Saint Lucia. Better bridging institutions in the domestic agri-food sector could help support shared rule-making, decentralization of power, enhanced participation in export agriculture opportunities and healthier rural communities

How do stakeholder interactions influence national food security policy in the Caribbean? : the case of Saint Lucia

In Saint Lucia monocrop (banana) plantation agriculture for commodity export continues to dominate the national and regional agricultural psyche, with minimal policy attention being directed towards developing more locally-oriented food systems involving agricultural diversification. This paper explores the nature of stakeholder interactions in Saint Lucia’s agri-food system and considers some of the implications for food security-related policy outcomes. A ‘top-down’ approach to policy development and implementation is likely to increase conflict and undermine food security. Agricultural cooperatives and research institutes were both identified as key secondary stakeholder groups, playing critical knowledge brokering roles in support of agricultural system innovation

A framework for analyzing institutional gaps in natural resource governance

In this paper we present the Inter-Institutional Gap(IIG) Framework as a novel approach to conceptualizing the often-overlooked interconnectivity of different rule-levels between formal and informal institutions in a resource system. This framework goes beyond the existing concepts of legal pluralism, institutional void, structural hole, and cultural mismatch, each of which offer valuable insights to particular gaps between formal and informal institutions, but do not sufficiently address the interaction at every rule level (i.e. constitutional choice, collective choice and operational choice rules). In order to demonstrate the potential of our framework for better understanding the underlying causes of inter-institutional gaps, we apply it to four case studies that encompass diverse geographical locations, governance scales, and social-ecological systems. Results reveal inter-institutional gaps can be created when there are unintended, unforeseen or hidden gaps between different rule hierarchies in two or more simultaneously operating institutions. More specifically we observe that: i) inter-institutional gaps are co-existing, therefore if a certain gap is identified, other gaps may be expected; ii) certain gaps may reveal latent gaps; and iii) intermediaries may be key to addressing inter-institutional gaps. In many cases, sustainable natural resource management and regulation cannot be achieved without directly addressing the inter-institutional gaps that exist between formal and informal institutions operating in the same resource system. The Framework facilitates analysis and understanding of multi-level governance structures in pursuit of addressing complex natural resource management issues

Addressing food and nutrition insecurity in the Caribbean through domestic smallholder farming system innovation

Structural conditions underlying the development of CARICOM’s two-tiered agricultural innovation system depict diverse drivers of change over time, versus institutional inertia of export-oriented formal institutions and the neglect of informal domestic markets. Key principles of taking an agroecological approach would include: supporting diversity and redundancy, building connectivity, managing slow variables and feedbacks, improving understanding of socioecological systems as complex adaptive systems, and encouraging polycentric governance systems. In this paper, we review the conditions that have been undermining sustainable food and nutrition security in the Caribbean, focusing on issues of history, economy, and innovation

Supporting smallholder farmers to address the food security challenges facing the Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean : a review

Manuscript draft to be published in the Regional Environmental ChangeFood security policy in the small island developing states of the Caribbean Community has focused traditionally on commodity-oriented export production rather than production for domestic food markets. Social, economic and environmental vulnerability has been the unintended consequence of such policy as evidenced by declining rural livelihoods, rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases and food systems that are highly susceptible to external shocks. In response, the Caribbean Community countries have sought to realign their agricultural production strategies to enhance domestic agricultural innovation with a view to improving regional food and nutrition security, and health outcomes for the populations. Recognizing the unique challenges associated with agricultural production among the small island developing states of Caribbean Community, this paper reviews how the existing agriculture and food systems are driving smallholder vulnerability in a cyclical manner. We first describe the conditions that undermine sustainable food security and nutrition outcomes, including issues of history, economy and institutions. Drawing on socio-ecological systems thinking, we then present a framework for conceptualizing how the formal research and policy institutions among Caribbean Community small island developing states might better approach the issue of adaptive capacity of domestic food systems. Building on this framework, we identify four broad areas that require further research and development in order to revolutionize food and agriculture policy within the Caribbean Community

Challenges and opportunities for more integrated regional food security policy in the Caribbean Community

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has recognized regional integration as an important development strategy for addressing the unique vulnerabilities of its member small island developing states (SIDS). Food security in the Caribbean is a fundamental social and ecological challenge in which the dynamics of regional integration are increasingly playing out. CARICOM members have subsequently identified a number of shared food security problems and have endorsed regional goals and approaches to address them; however, progress towards solutions has been slow. Recognizing that evidence-based studies on the potential factors limiting sustained progress are lacking, we undertook a comparative policy analysis to understand better the various approaches and framings of food security at national and regional levels with a view to assessing coherence. We identify considerable divergence in how regional and local policy institutions frame and approach food security problems in CARICOM and then identify ways through which the policy integration objectives for enhanced regional food security might be progressed, with a particular focus on social learning

Legitimacy of different knowledge types in natural resource governance and their functions in inter-institutional gaps

This study expands the Inter-Institutional Gaps (IIGs) framework to conceptualize the legitimacy associated with different types of ecological knowledge (e.g., scientific, traditional and local) used in natural resource governance. We draw on primary qualitative data, and document analysis to examine a case of inland fisheries management in the north-eastern floodplain of Bangladesh. We posit that the pragmatic, moral, cognitive, and regulative legitimacy for different types of ecological knowledge are repeatedly reevaluated by rule-makers and resource users in the process of rule-devising. Results show that inter-institutional gaps may be perpetuated when formal rules do not sufficiently consider traditional and local ecological knowledge. While it is widely proposed that systematically incorporating different knowledge types can better address local-national policy problems, this study underscores that the source of legitimacies for different knowledge types often differs across formal and informal institutional actors. Recognizing the differences is critical to fishers’ resource management