IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/syspar/v34y2021i5d10.1007_s11213-020-09547-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing Community Contributions to Sustainable Food Systems: Dietitians Leverage Practice, Process and Paradigms

Author

Listed:
  • Liesel Carlsson

    (Blekinge Institute of Technology
    Acadia University)

  • Edith Callaghan

    (Blekinge Institute of Technology
    Acadia University)

  • Göran Broman

    (Blekinge Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Food systems are not sustainable, and efforts to address this are paralyzed by the complex networks of food system actors and factors that interact across sectoral and geographic scales. Actions at the community level can positively contribute toward globally sustainable food systems (SFS). Assessing such contributions has two central challenges: 1) a lack of methods that support alignment between communities and across scales, balanced against the need to involve the community in developing relevant indicators; and 2) the absence of adequate, fine grained data relevant to the community. Addressing these two challenges, this paper illustrates a proposed procedure that supports community engagement with, and assessment of, their contributions. Engaged by a community of Canadian dietitians, researchers used the Delphi Inquiry method, guided by the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, to address the first challenge, and causal loop diagrams informed by the Cultural Adaptation Template to address the second. Indicators were developed for dietitian-identified actions and outcomes for SFS. Modeling indicator interactions provide insight into how some actions are influenced by and reinforce the value placed on SFS within the professional cultural paradigm, as well as priority areas for action and measurement. Process-oriented assessment is useful in the context of partial and subjective understandings of a dynamic system, and supports continual adjustment in action. This article offers theoretical and practical insight for community engagement in addressing some of the systemic challenges in food systems. It accommodates community-based knowledge, applies process-indicators, and emphasizes the importance of cultural paradigms as a driving force of community-level actions, and overall system change. Under current conditions, facilitating SFS literacy among dietitians can amplify adaptations for broader SFS development.

Suggested Citation

  • Liesel Carlsson & Edith Callaghan & Göran Broman, 2021. "Assessing Community Contributions to Sustainable Food Systems: Dietitians Leverage Practice, Process and Paradigms," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 34(5), pages 575-601, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:syspar:v:34:y:2021:i:5:d:10.1007_s11213-020-09547-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11213-020-09547-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11213-020-09547-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11213-020-09547-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Food and Agriculture Organization, 2015. "The State of Food Insecurity in the World Meeting the 2015 International Hunger Targets: Taking Stock of Uneven Progress," Working Papers id:7595, eSocialSciences.
    2. Leischow, S.J. & Milstein, B., 2006. "Systems thinking and modeling for public health practice," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(3), pages 403-405.
    3. Gonzalo Gamboa & Zora Kovacic & Marina Di Masso & Sara Mingorría & Tiziano Gomiero & Marta Rivera-Ferré & Mario Giampietro, 2016. "The Complexity of Food Systems: Defining Relevant Attributes and Indicators for the Evaluation of Food Supply Chains in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Jari Lyytimäki & Riina Antikainen & Joonas Hokkanen & Sirkka Koskela & Sirpa Kurppa & Riina Känkänen & Jyri Seppälä, 2018. "Developing Key Indicators of Green Growth," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(1), pages 51-64, January.
    5. Paolo Prosperi & Thomas Allen & Martine Padilla & Iuri Peri & Bruce Cogill, 2014. "Sustainability and Food & Nutrition Security," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(2), pages 21582440145, June.
    6. Bingli Clark Chai & Johannes Reidar van der Voort & Kristina Grofelnik & Helga Gudny Eliasdottir & Ines Klöss & Federico J. A. Perez-Cueto, 2019. "Which Diet Has the Least Environmental Impact on Our Planet? A Systematic Review of Vegan, Vegetarian and Omnivorous Diets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Trochim, W.M. & Cabrera, D.A. & Milstein, B. & Gallagher, R.S. & Leischow, S.J., 2006. "Practical challenges of systems thinking and modeling in public health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(3), pages 538-546.
    8. Thomas Allen & Paolo Prosperi & Bruce Cogill & Martine Padilla & Iuri Peri, 2019. "A Delphi Approach to Develop Sustainable Food System Metrics," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 141(3), pages 1307-1339, February.
    9. Jan Landert & Christian Schader & Heidrun Moschitz & Matthias Stolze, 2017. "A Holistic Sustainability Assessment Method for Urban Food System Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-21, March.
    10. Cristiana Peano & Nadia Tecco & Egidio Dansero & Vincenzo Girgenti & Francesco Sottile, 2015. "Evaluating the Sustainability in Complex Agri-Food Systems: The SAEMETH Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-21, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Thomaz Wood & Edvalter Becker Holz & Renato Souza, 2023. "When Rigor Meets Relevance: the Development of Hybrid Actionable Knowledge Production Systems," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 1-29, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jason M. Orr & Jonathon P. Leider & Margaret J. Gutilla, 2023. "System approaches in governmental public health: Findings from an analysis of the literature," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 159-169, January.
    2. Therese Riley & Liza Hopkins & Maria Gomez & Seanna Davidson & Daniel Chamberlain & Jessica Jacob & Sonia Wutzke, 2021. "A Systems Thinking Methodology for Studying Prevention Efforts in Communities," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 34(5), pages 555-573, October.
    3. repec:ags:ijaeri:334605 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Wendy Macias, 2023. "Insights to Improve Dietary Guidelines for Americans Communication and Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-11, September.
    5. L. Shakiyla Smith & Natalie J. Wilkins & Roderick J. McClure, 2021. "A systemic approach to achieving population‐level impact in injury and violence prevention," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1), pages 21-30, January.
    6. Kurt C. Stange & Anne Gaglioti & James Bindas, 2022. "Integrated, Personalized Care for Older People," Journal of Elder Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 2(2), pages 23-78, September.
    7. Céline Bérard & Martin Cloutier L. & Luc Cassivi, 2017. "The effects of using system dynamics-based decision support models: testing policy-makers’ boundaries in a complex situation," Post-Print halshs-01666605, HAL.
    8. Hazel Squires & James Chilcott & Ronald Akehurst & Jennifer Burr & Michael P. Kelly, 2016. "A systematic literature review of the key challenges for developing the structure of public health economic models," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(3), pages 289-298, April.
    9. Julie M. Kapp & Eduardo J. Simoes & Anne DeBiasi & Steven J. Kravet, 2017. "A Conceptual Framework for a Systems Thinking Approach to US Population Health," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(6), pages 686-698, November.
    10. Kamble, Sachin S. & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Gawankar, Shradha A., 2020. "Achieving sustainable performance in a data-driven agriculture supply chain: A review for research and applications," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 179-194.
    11. Weeks, Margaret R. & Green Montaque, Helena D. & Lounsbury, David W. & Li, Jianghong & Ferguson, Alice & Warren-Dias, Danielle, 2022. "Using participatory system dynamics learning to support Ryan White Planning Council priority setting and resource allocations," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    12. Liesel Carlsson & Edith Callaghan & Adrian Morley & Göran Broman, 2017. "Food System Sustainability across Scales: A Proposed Local-To-Global Approach to Community Planning and Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-14, June.
    13. Céline Bérard & L.M., Cloutier & Luc Cassivi, 2017. "The effects of using system dynamics-based decision support models: testing policy-makers’ boundaries in a complex situation," Post-Print hal-02128255, HAL.
    14. Ana Moragues-Faus & Alizée Marceau, 2018. "Measuring Progress in Sustainable Food Cities: An Indicators Toolbox for Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    15. Pablo Newberry & Neil Carhart, 2024. "Constructing causal loop diagrams from large interview data sets," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 40(1), January.
    16. Monica Bensberg & Andrew Joyce & Erin Wilson, 2021. "Building a Prevention System: Infrastructure to Strengthen Health Promotion Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Gates, Emily F., 2016. "Making sense of the emerging conversation in evaluation about systems thinking and complexity science," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 62-73.
    18. Ambrogio Zanzi & Valentina Vaglia & Roberto Spigarolo & Stefano Bocchi, 2021. "Assessing Agri-Food Start-Ups Sustainability in Peri-Urban Agriculture Context," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    19. Penny R. Breeze & Hazel Squires & Kate Ennis & Petra Meier & Kate Hayes & Nik Lomax & Alan Shiell & Frank Kee & Frank de Vocht & Martin O’Flaherty & Nigel Gilbert & Robin Purshouse & Stewart Robinson , 2023. "Guidance on the use of complex systems models for economic evaluations of public health interventions," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(7), pages 1603-1625, July.
    20. Phillip Warsaw & Steven Archambault & Arden He & Stacy Miller, 2021. "The Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts of Farmers Markets: Recent Evidence from the US," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    21. Lopes, Edilene & Street, Jackie & Carter, Drew & Merlin, Tracy & Stafinski, Tania, 2020. "Understanding Canadian Health Technology Assessment through a systems lens," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(9), pages 952-958.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:syspar:v:34:y:2021:i:5:d:10.1007_s11213-020-09547-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.