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Agri-Food systems and territorial development: innovations, new dynamics and changing governance mechanisms

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Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic

Abstract

The chapter explores the linkages between farming systems and agri-food chains in a territorial development context. Lock-in effects within the current agri-food system are analysed through a socio-historical analysis. Then the experiences of emergent, still relatively small-scale, alternative food networks are assessed in terms of their transformative potential to enable sustainable food systems at a larger scale. Finally, the analysis focuses on the transition processes of agri-food systems at the territorial scale and considers the changes needed in governance modes. The chapter underlines the interdependencies and possible complementarities between the various actors of agri-food systems from production to consumption, including intermediaries as well as public policies and civil society. It emphasizes the transition and governance aspects involved.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Examples are case-studies in European research projects such as IMPACT (www.rural-impact.net), SUS-CHAIN (www.sus-chain.org) and COFAMI (www.cofami.org).

  2. 2.

    GAS: Gruppi di Acquisto Solidale (Solidarity-based Purchase Groups).

  3. 3.

    AMAP: Association pour le Maintien d’une Agriculture Paysanne (Associations for the Maintenance of Peasant Agriculture).

  4. 4.

    Sociological studies realized within the European Network of Excellence ENDURE (2007–2010) as well as within the French ANR projects GéDUPIC and POPSY concerning transitions towards integrated protection (2007–2009 and 2008–2012).

  5. 5.

    The results are based on 188 qualitative interviews with a variety of stakeholders by sociologists in France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, Denmark, Italy, Poland and Hungary within ENDURE.

  6. 6.

    This analysis draws on research for the European IN-SIGHT project (Brunori et al. 2007; Dockès et al. 2008) and for a regional project that has monitored this reality since 2006.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA Ecodéveloppement, Avignon, France

    Claire Lamine

  2. Master Territorial Rural Development, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

    Henk Renting

  3. Rural Sociology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Henk Renting & J. S. C. (Han) Wiskerke

  4. Group of Rural Economics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Adanella Rossi & Gianluca Brunori

Authors
  1. Claire Lamine
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  2. Henk Renting
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  3. Adanella Rossi
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  4. J. S. C. (Han) Wiskerke
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  5. Gianluca Brunori
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Correspondence to Claire Lamine .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Feistmantelstrasse 4, Vienna, 1180, Austria

    Ika Darnhofer

  2. Livelihood Systems, Agricultural and Rural, Shrewsbury Road 59, Church Stretton, SY6 6EX, Shropshire, United Kingdom

    David Gibbon

  3. , SAD, INRA, INRA - Clermont-Theix, Saint-Genes-Champanelle, 63122, France

    Benoît Dedieu

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Lamine, C., Renting, H., Rossi, A., Wiskerke, J.S.C.(., Brunori, G. (2012). Agri-Food systems and territorial development: innovations, new dynamics and changing governance mechanisms. In: Darnhofer, I., Gibbon, D., Dedieu, B. (eds) Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4503-2_11

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