Kump, Barbara, Fikar, Christian. 2021. Challenges of maintaining and diffusing grassroots innovations in alternative food networks: A systems thinking approach. Journal of Cleaner Production. (317), 128407
BibTeX
Abstract
Sustainability transitions of food systems are at the core of several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In many regions, grassroots initiatives (i.e., community-led bottom-up initiatives) have emerged to experiment with alternative food networks and change the dominant food regimes. While grassroots initiatives can play a crucial role in sustainability transitions, it is known that actors usually face challenges related to (1) building and maintaining an initiative, and (2) diffusing it to the mainstream. However, the systemic mechanisms underlying these two types of challenges in food systems are still underspecified. Building on previous empirical research, the paper uses systems thinking (qualitative causal loop diagrams) to detail (1) the systemic mechanisms underlying the emergence and maintenance of an alternative food network; and (2) the feedback loops related to organizational and logistics issues that pose limits to scaling. It explains the paradox of diffusion in alternative food networks and concludes that diffusion of alternative food networks to mainstream may be achieved through replication and translation strategies, rather than scaling-up.
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Status of publication | Published |
---|---|
Affiliation | WU |
Type of publication | Journal article |
Journal | Journal of Cleaner Production |
Citation Index | SCI |
WU-Journal-Rating new | FIN-A, INF-A, STRAT-B, WH-B |
Language | English |
Title | Challenges of maintaining and diffusing grassroots innovations in alternative food networks: A systems thinking approach |
Number | 317 |
Year | 2021 |
Page from | 128407 |
URL | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652621026202 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128407 |
Open Access | Y |
Open Access Link | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652621026202 |
Associations
- People
- Kump, Barbara (Details)
- Fikar, Christian (Details)
- Organization
- Institute for Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship IN (Details)
- Research areas (ÖSTAT Classification 'Statistik Austria')
- 1925 Knowledge management (Details)
- 5324 Organizational research (Details)
- 5517 Organisational psychology (Details)
- 5521 Cognitive psychology (Details)
- 5945 Organisational development (Details)