Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food Systems
The unsustainability of the globalized food system is a relevant debate. Despite the vast amount of literature on sustainable food systems, there is little research explaining how food system innovations can scale impact and influence systemic change. Moreover, not much literature considers the terr...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/7/1046 |
| _version_ | 1797445780261306368 |
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| author | Francesca Benedetta Felici Giampiero Mazzocchi |
| author_facet | Francesca Benedetta Felici Giampiero Mazzocchi |
| author_sort | Francesca Benedetta Felici |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The unsustainability of the globalized food system is a relevant debate. Despite the vast amount of literature on sustainable food systems, there is little research explaining how food system innovations can scale impact and influence systemic change. Moreover, not much literature considers the territorial context in which innovations take place, as a key factor in fostering transition. In this paper, we attempt to understand how territorial factors, such as actors and networks, influence sustainable food system transition. To achieve this goal, we built and applied an original methodology that was able to map the specific territorial context and dynamics. Considering a case study of 12 urban food system innovations in Montpellier (France), we reconstructed the relational context, in order to demonstrate the key role of embedded territorial dynamics in fostering sustainable transition. The application of our methodology produced about seven territorial conditions, which are defined by the differences between innovations, power relations and dynamics, the role of politics and the so-called “spaces of governance”. Each of these conditions plays a critical role in the transition to a sustainable food system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:31:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01827f4ed66344c0ba385745e83fa4b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:31:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-01827f4ed66344c0ba385745e83fa4b42023-11-30T21:16:47ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-07-01117104610.3390/land11071046Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food SystemsFrancesca Benedetta Felici0Giampiero Mazzocchi1Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Policies and Bio-Economics, Council for Agricultural Research and the Analysis of Agricultural Economics, 00187 Rome, ItalyThe unsustainability of the globalized food system is a relevant debate. Despite the vast amount of literature on sustainable food systems, there is little research explaining how food system innovations can scale impact and influence systemic change. Moreover, not much literature considers the territorial context in which innovations take place, as a key factor in fostering transition. In this paper, we attempt to understand how territorial factors, such as actors and networks, influence sustainable food system transition. To achieve this goal, we built and applied an original methodology that was able to map the specific territorial context and dynamics. Considering a case study of 12 urban food system innovations in Montpellier (France), we reconstructed the relational context, in order to demonstrate the key role of embedded territorial dynamics in fostering sustainable transition. The application of our methodology produced about seven territorial conditions, which are defined by the differences between innovations, power relations and dynamics, the role of politics and the so-called “spaces of governance”. Each of these conditions plays a critical role in the transition to a sustainable food system.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/7/1046local food systemssustainable transitionfood aidMontpellier |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Benedetta Felici Giampiero Mazzocchi Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food Systems Land local food systems sustainable transition food aid Montpellier |
| title | Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food Systems |
| title_full | Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food Systems |
| title_fullStr | Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food Systems |
| title_short | Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food Systems |
| title_sort | territory matters a methodology for understanding the role of territorial factors in transforming local food systems |
| topic | local food systems sustainable transition food aid Montpellier |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/7/1046 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT francescabenedettafelici territorymattersamethodologyforunderstandingtheroleofterritorialfactorsintransforminglocalfoodsystems AT giampieromazzocchi territorymattersamethodologyforunderstandingtheroleofterritorialfactorsintransforminglocalfoodsystems |