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An agenda for integrated system-wide interdisciplinary agri-food research

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Horton

    (University of Sheffield
    University of Sheffield)

  • Steve A. Banwart

    (University of Sheffield
    University of Leeds)

  • Dan Brockington

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Garrett W. Brown

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Richard Bruce

    (University of Sheffield
    University of Sheffield)

  • Duncan Cameron

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Michelle Holdsworth

    (University of Sheffield)

  • S. C. Lenny Koh

    (University of Sheffield
    University of Sheffield)

  • Jurriaan Ton

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Peter Jackson

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

This paper outlines the development of an integrated interdisciplinary approach to agri-food research, designed to address the ‘grand challenge’ of global food security. Rather than meeting this challenge by working in separate domains or via single-disciplinary perspectives, we chart the development of a system-wide approach to the food supply chain. In this approach, social and environmental questions are simultaneously addressed. Firstly, we provide a holistic model of the agri-food system, which depicts the processes involved, the principal inputs and outputs, the actors and the external influences, emphasising the system’s interactions, feedbacks and complexities. Secondly, we show how this model necessitates a research programme that includes the study of land-use, crop production and protection, food processing, storage and distribution, retailing and consumption, nutrition and public health. Acknowledging the methodological and epistemological challenges involved in developing this approach, we propose two specific ways forward. Firstly, we propose a method for analysing and modelling agri-food systems in their totality, which enables the complexity to be reduced to essential components of the whole system to allow tractable quantitative analysis using LCA and related methods. This initial analysis allows for more detailed quantification of total system resource efficiency, environmental impact and waste. Secondly, we propose a method to analyse the ethical, legal and political tensions that characterise such systems via the use of deliberative fora. We conclude by proposing an agenda for agri-food research which combines these two approaches into a rational programme for identifying, testing and implementing the new agri-technologies and agri-food policies, advocating the critical application of nexus thinking to meet the global food security challenge.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Horton & Steve A. Banwart & Dan Brockington & Garrett W. Brown & Richard Bruce & Duncan Cameron & Michelle Holdsworth & S. C. Lenny Koh & Jurriaan Ton & Peter Jackson, 2017. "An agenda for integrated system-wide interdisciplinary agri-food research," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(2), pages 195-210, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:9:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s12571-017-0648-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-017-0648-4
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    2. Peter Horton & Garrett W. Brown, 2018. "Integrating evidence, politics and society: a methodology for the science–policy interface," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-5, December.
    3. Carolina Yacamán Ochoa & Alberto Matarán Ruiz & Rafael Mata Olmo & Álvaro Macías Figueroa & Adolfo Torres Rodríguez, 2020. "Peri-Urban Organic Agriculture and Short Food Supply Chains as Drivers for Strengthening City/Region Food Systems—Two Case Studies in Andalucía, Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Aogán Delaney & Tom Evans & John McGreevy & Jordan Blekking & Tyler Schlachter & Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki & Peter A. Tamás & Todd A. Crane & Hallie Eakin & Wiebke Förch & Lindsey Jones & Donald R. Nelson , 2018. "Governance of food systems across scales in times of social-ecological change: a review of indicators," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(2), pages 287-310, April.
    5. Peter Horton, 2017. "We need radical change in how we produce and consume food," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(6), pages 1323-1327, December.
    6. Chris McPhee & Margaret Bancerz & Muriel Mambrini-Doudet & François Chrétien & Christian Huyghe & Javier Gracia-Garza, 2021. "The Defining Characteristics of Agroecosystem Living Labs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-25, February.
    7. Follmann, Alexander & Dannenberg, Peter & Baur, Nina & Braun, Boris & Walther, Grit & Bernzen, Amelie & Börner, Jan & Brüntrup, Michael & Franz, Martin & Götz, Linde & Hornidge, Anna-Katharina & Hulke, 2024. "Conceptualizing sustainability and resilience in value chains in times of multiple crises—Notes on agri-food chains," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 155(1), pages 29-48.
    8. Jennifer Buyck & Aurore Meyfroidt & Caroline Brand & Gabriel Jourdan, 2021. "Bringing sustainable urban planning down to earth through food: the experience of the food transects of Grenoble and Caen," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 102(3), pages 319-347, September.
    9. Follmann, Alexander & Dannenberg, Peter & Baur, Nina & Braun, Boris & Walther, Grit & Bernzen, Amelie & Boerner, Jan & Bruentrup, Michael & Franz, Martin & Goetz, Linde & Hornidge, Anna-Katharina & Hu, 2024. "Conceptualizing sustainability and resilience in value chains in times of multiple crises-notes on agri-food chains," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 126949, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Rohe, Sebastian & Oltmer, Marie & Wolter, Hendrik & Gmeiner, Nina & Tschersich , Julia, 2022. "Forever Niche: Why do organic vegetable varieties not diffuse?," Papers in Innovation Studies 2022/8, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    11. Oriana Gava & Fabio Bartolini & Francesca Venturi & Gianluca Brunori & Alberto Pardossi, 2020. "Improving Policy Evidence Base for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security: A Content Analysis of Life Cycle Assessment Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-29, February.

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