Reflections on Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Food Systems

Le résumé fourni par la source

Reflecting on transdisciplinary research can enhance clarity on its potential to promote scientific innovation and contribute solutions to complex societal challenges. We analyse a transdisciplinary project on food systems and the applications of its resulting tool, the Food Sustainability Assessment Framework - “FoodSAF”. We employ the general phases of transdisciplinary research, encompassing joint problem framing, co-design, collaborative research, results validation, piloting negotiated transformative action(s), and joint evaluation of research impact. We discuss lessons, challenges, opportunities, and strategies of operationalizing such transdisciplinary research, illustrating with concrete examples from the project. Insights show that the research process depended on the researchers’ capacities, their freedom to research, their willingness to break disciplinary boundaries and social differences, to co-create knowledge by learning new methods and acquiring collaboration skills. The research also depended on the conduciveness and supportiveness of the research contexts, stakeholder willingness to collaborate, and the availability of financial and time resources for the research. The transdisciplinary research contributed to positive outcomes for the involved stakeholders. While the focus on one research project does not cover the breadth of research project types and experiences, this contribution provides an opportunity to reflect on research processes and their potential to become more collaborative and transformative.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.