15:00 - 15:10
In this paper, we present results from a qualitative study of exemplary bioeconomy innovation projects in Germany, focusing on their regional (un)embeddedness and their normative dimension. We contribute to ongoing debates at the intersection of sustainability transitions in agrifood systems, (circular) bioeconomy, and regional innovation systems.
Bioeconomy remains a double-edged sword: Depending on the underlying paradigm (e.g., Schlaile et al., 2017), it holds the promise of catalyzing an agrifood system transformation contributing to addressing Grand Challenges, as was recently reiterated, for example, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO 2023). However, the notion of the bioeconomy in agricultural settings also becomes blurred by the prevalence of innovation paradigms narrowly focused on technological solutions and economic growth (e.g., Friedrich et al., 2021; Schlaile et al., 2017). It strongly depends on the imagined futures and normative guardrails enacted by stakeholders whether the bioeconomy will support the transition towards more just and sustainable agrifood systems. Ranging from perpetuating existing inequalities to aggravating both land use and socio-ecological conflicts, the transition towards a bioeconomy involves multiple (potential) moral issues that raise questions of (in)justice (e.g., Bastos Lima, 2022) and connected questions of directionality, legitimacy, and responsibility (e.g., Schlaile et al., 2017).
In this paper, we focus on the bioeconomy in Germany as a “political project” (Lühmann and Vogelpohl 2023) anchored in the “bioeconomy strategy” of the German Federal Government that is imagined nationally, yet embedded and enacted regionally. This raises additional normative issues concerning the (multi-scalar) impacts of the political project with regard to sustainability-oriented transitions in agrifood systems and the perpetuation or even enhancement of both existing local and regional injustices and dependencies (e.g., exclusiveness, land use conflicts, exploitation, etc.). Despite their relevance, these aspects and their normative dimension remain under-researched.
Against this backdrop, we study 16 bioeconomy “lighthouse projects” as part of the German bioeconomy. These lighthouse projects are located in different regions of Germany and range from agrifood startups to a bioplastic manufacturer operating a biogas plant. We focus on their regional (un)embeddedness to understand the regional benefits, contributions, and legitimacy of these exemplary bioeconomy innovations. Methodically, we employ a comparative case study approach and a qualitative content analysis of 16 interviews with innovation actors, inspired by work on innovation biographies (Butzin & Widmaier, 2016) and an extended understanding of regional innovation systems (e.g., Asheim et al., 2019). Preliminary results indicate different, often incompatible, bioeconomy visions, an ambiguous role of bioeconomy policies (e.g., funding as enabler vs. restrictive regulation), and various perceived injustices. We further find these innovations to emanate from heterogeneous regional networks and socio-technical configurations. We discuss these findings in relation to the regional (un)embeddedness of bioeconomic activity, particularly focusing on the normative dimension and just transition of regional innovation systems, innovation policy, and a more responsible design of bioeconomic innovations.
References
Asheim, B. T., Isaksen, A., & Trippl, M. (2019). Advanced introduction to regional innovation systems. Edward Elgar.
Bastos Lima, M. G. (2022). Just transition towards a bioeconomy: Four dimensions in Brazil, India and Indonesia. Forest Policy and Economics, 136, 102684.
Butzin, A., & Widmaier, B. (2016). Exploring territorial knowledge dynamics through innovation biographies. Regional Studies, 50, 220-232.
FAO (2023). Bioeconomy is a catalyst for agrifood systems transformation to greater sustainability. Online: https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/FAO-bioeconomy-agrifood-systems-science-innovation-forum-2023/en
Friedrich, J., Bunker, I., Uthes, S., & Zscheischler, J. (2021). The Potential of Bioeconomic Innovations to Contribute to a Social-Ecological Transformation: A Case Study in the Livestock System. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 34(4), 24.
Friedrich, J., Holz, J., Koch, P., Pungas, L., Eversberg, D., Zscheischler, J. (2023) Rural bioeconomies in Europe: Socio-ecological conflicts, marginalized people and practices. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 23(2): 219-224.
Lühmann, M., Vogelpohl, T. (2023) The bioeconomy in Germany: A failing political project?, Ecological Economics, 207, 107783.
Schlaile, M. P., Urmetzer, S., Blok, V., Andersen, A., Timmermans, J., Mueller, M., Fagerberg, J., & Pyka, A. (2017). Innovation Systems for Transformations towards Sustainability? Taking the Normative Dimension Seriously. Sustainability, 9(12), 2253.
15:10 - 15:20
Researchers have explored the potential benefits of rural electrification, technological advancements, and market developments for specific agricultural value chains to boost productivity and value creation in African agriculture, thereby reducing poverty. They demonstrate the interdependency between rural food systems and urban food markets, where modernisation of the food value chain includes aspects of food safety, quality, the role of technology, transport, and the inclusion of farmers. Situated at the intersection of the geography of sustainability transition, energy geography, human geography, and rural development studies, this comparative case study contributes to existing research on electrification as a catalyst for rural economic transformation with an analysis of the development of the structure and complex socio-material flows. The study evaluates the performance of the modernisation of the dairy value chain in the context of Rwanda’s rural transformation. It applies a system thinking approach to understand the dairy value chain as a complex system, where performance relies on interactions among components, processes, and pathways to rural transformation. Data collection involved qualitative methods, including documentation, observations and in-depth interviews with relevant actors. Qualitative data analysis was complemented with visualisation tools like causal loop diagrams and geographic information system (GIS) mapping.
Results show that the modernization of the dairy VC is structured around four sub-VCs, that differ in actor networks. The first is constructed around a large-scale processor. To source the milk, this processor has integrated with the network of milk collection centres (MCCs). MCCs are a new type of actor that has emerged since 2006. The second sub-VC is structured around a medium-sized processor that collaborates with a limited network of MCCs. The third sub-VC consists of medium-sized processors who source milk from farmers or agents while the fourth sub-VC produces traditional dairy products and relies on traditional technology for processing.
Four crucial flows—milk, electricity, information and money—characterise the VCs. Environmental factors such as the seasonality of weather affect the flow of milk and induce a change in competition and monitoring of milk quality standards and demand for dairy products. Raw milk quality is mostly affected by natural conditions that dictate the abundance and scarcity of fodder for farmers. Small-scale farmers struggle to find fodder to feed their cows, and unsuitable fodder results in their milk being rejected by MCCs, while large-scale farmers do not face these issues.Changes in the milk flow are also associated with changes in technological adoption at different levels of the VC, especially at the MCCs and farm levels, where the adoption of technology has enabled improvement in cattle health management, milk quality, hygiene, and standardisation in milk storage, cooling, and testing. However, access to technology is unequal due to farmers’ financial constraints and exclusion in MCCs cooperatives.
Electricity enables the modernisation of the dairy VC. It is associated with maintaining milk quality and operational efficiency at both MCCs and the processing plants and enabling the development of the cold chain. However, it is associated with challenges during power outages, including disruptions in processing activities and increased costs associated with generator usage. Irregular electricity supply leads to milk spoilage and financial losses among dairy processors. MCCs faced with electricity-induced spoilage sell it to the third and fourth sub-VC and face a reduction in revenues.
Information flows are supported by the role that MCCs play as platforms for disseminating information on milk quality and quantity compliance and financial transactions with their suppliers and processors. The information flow is enabled by existing technology such as mobile phones and the internet. The flow of information has improved transparency, compliance, and consistency in data management and reporting, enhancing trust and reliability within the VC, especially in the first sub-VC.
Financial flows have reinforced collaboration with financial institutions and partnerships between MCCs and processors, contributing to differentiated farmers’ inclusion in the VC. In sum, upgrading the dairy VC through interactions between its components has contributed to the diversification of products and geographical expansion, reinforcing the relationship between the city and the countryside, especially for the first sub-value chain. Future studies must explore the relationship between of dairy VC upgrading and of the rural community livelihoods and well-being.
Keywords: Value chain, MCCs, flow, dairy products, geographical expansion
15:20 - 15:30
Tomatoes from the wastewater treatment plant – Scenarios for an urban, resource-efficient agricultural system of the future
In times of increasing urbanization, growing sustainability awareness, and increasing resource scarcity, feeding the world's growing population faces various challenges. In addition to climate change, the unavailability and limitations of fertilizer inputs are expected to have an impact on current and future agricultural production systems (Chmielewski 2009; FAO 2017; GIZ).
The potential of recovering resources from wastewater for agricultural production and for linking wastewater systems to food production has not been sufficiently explored so far (Keuter et al. 2021).
We aim to investigate this innovative form of food production that can be integrated into urban structures to shorten supply routes and make food security more self-sufficient and sustainable. To this end, we are addressing the question of how agricultural systems can be designed to be climate-sensitive and resource-efficient while at the same time being efficiently integrated into urban areas, and what measures are needed to achieve this.
Together with stakeholders from science and practice, a multi-stage scenari o study identified various influencing factors for future paths of resource-conserving and urban agriculture, based on which scenario stories were formulated for different locations in the Ruhr area in Germany (Steines et al.2024). On this basis, recommendations for policy, urban and spatial development were developed through interviews and a stakeholder workshop.
As a result of the process, recommendations for action for urban and spatial development outline the necessary measures to be implemented in order to link agricultural systems with wastewater systems, thus exploiting the potential of nutrients recovered from wastewater for food production.
The scenarios and the recommendations show the interaction between urban development and the new possibilities of linking wastewater systems with agricultural systems (NEWtrient® centres) by 2050, as well as the role that residents will play in future agricultural production and nutrient recovery. Furthermore, the concept shows what the wastewater treatment plant of the future could look like as a sustainable, resource-conserving agricultural production system and what measures are needed to achieve this.
Literature
Chmielewski, Frank-Michael (2009): Landwirtschaft und Klimawandel. In: Geographische Rundschau 61, 9, 28–35.
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2017): The future of food and agriculture – Trends and challenges. Rome.
GIZ – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (n.Y.): Agriculture and climate change. Online: https://www.giz.de/expertise/html/60132.html
Keuter, V.; Deck, S.; Giesenkamp, H.; Gonglach, D.; Katayama, V.T.; Liesegang, S.; Petersen, F.; Schwindenhammer, S.; Steinmetz, H.; Ulbrich, A. (2021): Significance and Vision of Nutrient Recovery for Sustainable City Food Systems in Germany by 2050. Sustainability 2021, 13, 10772. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910772
Steines, Ann-Kristin; Schulwitz, Martin; Haberland, Marcel (2024): SUSKULT Scenario Study. Translated by Steines, Ann-Kristin and Eisenberg, Annika. Hrsg. v. ILS Research gGmbH. Dortmund. https://doi.org/10.58122/qfs7-tk54
15:30 - 15:40
Transformative innovation policies (TIP) aimed at resolving grand challenges through mission-oriented innovation are taking shape across the globe (Mazzucato, 2018; Haddad et al., 2022). Recent scholarship has stressed that ‘missions’ can be supported by policy mixes that provide direction for innovation activities, coordinate between actors, policy domains and governance levels, while coherence of these policy mixes is crucial for effective implementation (cf. Wanzenböck et al., 2020; Rogge & Reichardt, 2016). While empirical work on TIP is emerging, there is an urgent need to unravel the (1) the (political) dynamics of implementing TIP in practice; and (2) the ways in which implementation dynamics takes shape across different sectors and contexts (cf. Bergek et al., 2023; Haddad et al., 2022; Kok & Klerkx, 2023). So far, there has been limited analysis of how such policies are formulated and enacted in the Latin-America, and this also holds true for Chile. Therefore, in this paper we focus on TIP emergence in Chile, with a particular empirical emphasis on one of its main sectors, agri-food, and ask the question: how do transformative innovation policies in the agri-food system take shape in Chile?
We present a qualitative case study, based on 22 interviews with key respondents from the Chilean agri-food innovation system (policymakers, scientific experts, innovation agencies, private sector, NGO, Farmers Organizations), as well as a review of secondary data such as policy reports.
We analyse emerging TIP by focusing on the grand challenges at hand; directionality, multi-level policy interventions, multi-actor approaches and the coordination between governance levels in the Chilean agri-food system. Main findings indicate that TIP has been taking shape in recent years. However, these do not have a strong overarching shared label such as “missions” due to political sensitivities. Rather, TIP has been mainly implemented by reframing and rebranding existing policy instruments, though currently new and dedicated programs are being developed by innovation agencies. Directionality is achieved on the one hand through large guiding visions such as 'tackling climate change' and 'promote biodiversity' which have application in multiple systems including agri-food, but also by more agri-food or subsector specific visions. Nonetheless, in terms of coherence of policies and policy instruments, TIP is formulated and implemented in a fragmented way across different ministries (agriculture, science and technology, economic affairs) and innovation agencies (CORFO, ANID, FIA). Additionally, stronger coordination between currently disconnected central government dynamics and regional innovation systems is required to advance implementation of TIP. The emerging TIP promotes longer term outlooks, with transformative visions being articulated through visioning exercises and anchored in laws, and with a better reception of such long term and more risk oriented programs, by state budgeting and accounting departments which control innovation policy spending.
In our discussion, we articulate the context-specific and political dynamics of agri-food system transformation. Our case serves to stress that TIPs do not develop in a vacuum but needs to take into account policy legacies, path dependencies, and political opportunities and taboos. The Chilean innovation system's idiosyncrasies, as in any context, make that a context-specific translation needs to be found for a generic policy concept. Future research could further interrogate the political dynamics within emerging missions, and the (synergetic or competitive) dynamics between missions in different sectors, such as agri-food, mining and energy. We conclude by suggesting pathways forward to advance mission-orientation in the Chilean agri-food system, and argue this requires dedicated spaces for reflection and innovation policy learning.
References
15:40 - 15:50
Since the 1950s, the demand for fresh cow’s milk in Norway has decreased by half, dropping from 222 kg per capita per year to 106, while the demand for meat has doubled, increasing from 36 kg per capita per year to 75. This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable agrifood systems by addressing the intertwined challenges of environmental degradation, climate change impacts, and food security, with a focus on the Norwegian context. It emphasizes the need for a holistic understanding of the dynamics between supply and demand in shaping consumption patterns, particularly in the meat and dairy sectors. Drawing on insights from transitions literature and a system of provisions perspective, the study examines the co-evolution of meat and milk demand in Norway, highlighting the complex interplay of actors and historical contingencies in driving consumption trends.
The analysis underscores the importance of considering supply-demand dynamics in elucidating consumption patterns, revealing how various actors such as government, industry, and consumers influence the trajectory of agrifood systems. By examining the decline in fresh milk consumption alongside the rise in meat demand, the study uncovers contrasting factors contributing to these trends, including state interventions, nutritional advice, and consumer preferences. Importantly, it identifies the failure of the milk provision system to adapt to changing consumer behaviors, resulting in adverse consequences for dairy farmers.
In synthesizing these findings, the paper emphasizes the significance of adopting a systemic perspective that accounts for the multifaceted interactions between supply and demand. It advocates for a more nuanced approach to understanding agrifood transitions, one that considers equity, justice, and resilience alongside environmental sustainability. By shedding light on the complexities of consumption dynamics, this study contributes to advancing strategies for fostering sustainable agrifood systems that prioritize both human well-being and environmental preservation.
15:50 - 16:00
Urban agri-food strategies are instrumental in guiding transition governance processes within city agri-food systems (Zerbian et al., 2023). However, these strategies encounter challenges in measuring progress and impact, prompting international initiatives to establish monitoring frameworks alongside local evidence generation (Moragues-Faus & Marceau, 2019). Nevertheless, literature exploring the contested role of knowledge and evidence in local agri-food policymaking is notably scarce despite insights into international challenges (Turnhout et al., 2021) or into other sectors related to sustainability transitions (Dunn et al., 2017). This paper addresses this gap through the concept of knowledge-policy interfaces (Zerbian et al., 2023), examining the formal and informal spaces and processes mediating interactions between science, policy, and society present in urban agri-food strategies’ processes and related multi-actor governance spaces.
This study follows Yin’s (2009) exploratory multiple-case study design in two Spanish cities: Barcelona and València. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with academics and representatives of local authorities and civil society organisations involved in the urban food strategy’s processes in each city (7 in Barcelona and 8 in València), participant observation of the co-authors as expert advisors or part of the core group of the strategies’ development and implementation, and document analysis (19 documents). Collected data was first analysed within each case and then synthesised across cases, using the commonalities and differences of the studied cities to enhance understanding of knowledge-policy interfaces for urban agri-food sustainability transitions (Stake, 2005).
The comparative analysis reveals that the multi-actor spaces arising from the urban agri-food strategies in both cities have facilitated the development of plural knowledge-policy interfaces, promoting collective learning processes and transdisciplinary knowledge co-production. However, follow-up efforts grapple with challenges in evidence-informed policymaking, marked by scarce data and resource constraints. In this context, tensions arise regarding the use of codified knowledge, such as scientific evidence, in the broader context of local agri-food policymaking, viewed as detached from local realities and not directly guaranteeing effective policies. Significantly, a linear model of science and policy relations persists, whereby these domains’ roles are perceived as separate. Moreover, the relatively fragile nature of urban agri-food policies due to limited political commitment compared to other policies, such as energy, and short political cycles, leads to immediacy within city councils. Implementing concrete actions informed by technical and tacit knowledge is thus prioritised rather than engaging in a more comprehensive process of evidence-informed policy action.
The study calls for tailoring knowledge-policy interfaces specific to the context of urban agri-food systems. This becomes particularly pertinent when contrasting the distinct features of knowledge-policy interfaces in other sustainability transition areas and scales with those uncovered in this research. Unlike the prevalent information-deficit model dominant in policies concerning climate action or international agri-food policies, permeated by scientific values and characterised by the imperative for increased transparent and credible scientific evidence uptake, the context concerning urban agri-food systems presents an alternative set of challenges. Here, the emphasis shifts towards embracing the transdisciplinary character of urban agri-food strategies while reaching a delicate equilibrium between measuring and action within an unfavourable governance terrain for agri-food policies.
This paper is part of the project TED2021-129660A-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 - European Union "NextGenerationEU"/PRTR.
References
Braun, V., Clarke, V., Hayfield, N., & Terry, G. (2019). Thematic Analysis. In P. Liamputtong (Ed.), Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences (pp. 843–860). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5251-4_103
Dunn, G., Brown, R. R., Bos, J. J., & Bakker, K. (2017). The role of science-policy interface in sustainable urban water transitions: Lessons from Rotterdam. Environmental Science and Policy, 73, 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.04.013
Moragues-Faus, A., & Marceau, A. (2019). Measuring progress in sustainable food cities: An indicators toolbox for action. Sustainability (Switzerland), 11(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010045
Turnhout, E., Duncan, J., Candel, J., Maas, T. Y., Roodhof, A. M., DeClerck, F., & Watson, R. T. (2021). Do we need a new science-policy interface for food systems? Science, 373(6559), 1093–1095. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj5263
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications. Design and Methods. SAGE Publications, Inc.
Zerbian, T., Escario-Chust, A., Palau-Salvador, G., & Segura-Calero, S. (2023). The multiple and contested worlds of urban food governance: The case of the city of Valencia. Cities, 141, 104516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104516
Zerbian, T., Yap, C., Sharpe, R., & Reynolds, C. (2023). Leveraging knowledge-policy interfaces for food systems transformation in the UK: Lessons from civil society. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.25383/city.24771945.v1