Identifying Transition Capacity for Agri-food Regimes: Application of the Multi-level Perspective for Strategic Mapping

Abstract

In this paper, agri-food systems are discussed in the context of a set of socio-technical transitions principles, with a focus on energy, materials and practice elements that have the potential to promote sustainable outcomes across the system. This paper aims to develop an integrated approach for regime analysis, informed by emerging knowledge on socio-technical transitions. The application of the multi-level perspective (MLP) as a heuristic framework to structure descriptions of the multi-dimensional transition contexts of contemporary agri-food regimes is explored. To do this, the paper aims to elaborate the MLP by proposing an integrated means through which complex transition dynamics can be mapped across: (a) energy and material flows and (b) social practices which shape, direct and determine these energy and material flows. This approach is labelled strategic regime mapping (SRM). The paper forwards insights from the development of SRM and discusses the role of strategic mapping of key points across the regime. By combining insight on the conceptualization of dynamic and globally interconnected socio-technical systems with specific observations on contemporary agri-food systems, the paper provides insight into the mapping of transition capacity across agri-food systems, as well as highlighting the significant challenges associated with such an undertaking.

Key Words:

• Agri-food systems
• socio-technical
• sustainable
• transitions
• multi-level perspective
• policy

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the contribution of the OERC to this work. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the OERC.

Funding

This article is based on research enabled by funding provided by the Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

Notes

1. Marlow et al. (2009) report on the higher ecological cost of an animal-based diet, citing the disproportionate impacts of meat production systems on biodiversity loss, freshwater depletion and climate change for example. Furthermore, Aiking (2011) highlights the crucial role that meat and dairy production play in overstepping ‘planetary boundaries’, including absorptive capacity and pollution threshold levels for key issues.

2. Every year, an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of the food produced for human consumption worldwide is lost or wasted. In industrialized countries, significant waste occurs at the consumption stage, while in low-income countries, food losses take place primarily during the early and middle stages of the supply chain (FAO, 2012).

3. Gadema and Oglethorpe (2011) argue that the establishment of effective linkages between food policy and food market actors to drive a targeted and coherent carbon-labelling policy is needed, which would provide consumers with the opportunity to make informed choices.

4. Demand for food products with low-ecological impact is predicted to strengthen considerably in the coming decade (Fresco, 2009).