Abstract
There is an expanding interest in Local Food Systems (LFSs) in Vermont, along with a growing effort to create adaptive governance to facilitate action. In this case study, we investigate how adaptive governance of LFS can provide ideas and act as a catalyst for creating resilience in other social-ecological systems (SESs). By participating in meetings and interviewing stakeholders inside and outside the Vermont LFS network, we found that consumers were highly motivated to participate by supporting environmental issues, the local economy, and interactive communities, as well as building social relationships. Farmers experienced better income and increased respect in the local community. All participants found adequate “safe space” to share new ideas and explore partnerships. Their identities and values were also place-specific, reflecting the working landscape of Vermont. Adaptive governance was built on equal partnerships, where problems were discussed and responsibilities were shared among many stakeholders across geographic areas and multiple sectors. Some skepticism was expressed towards mainstreaming local food production and sales. Challenges remain to more fully include farmers, for-profit players, and low-income consumers in the network. This might limit the resilience and sustainability of the LFS. Because SESs are held together by common culture and identities, the risk of non-adaptive social patterns exemplifies one key challenge for future adaptive management towards resilient and sustainable outcomes. There is a critical need for developing relevant theory and conducting further research on LFSs and their potential roles in local SESs.
Highlights
Human uses of natural resources are embedded in complex social-ecological systems (SESs) [1]
The state is involved in F2P through the Agency of Agriculture, of which the role is to convene the Local Food Systems (LFSs) actors, promote local food to consumers, and facilitate the process for LFSs to grow in Vermont
Stakeholders were engaged in the LFS through culinary events, partnerships, policy-making sessions and other collaborative work
Summary
Human uses of natural resources are embedded in complex social-ecological systems (SESs) [1]. In a complex SES, such as a food system, different elements and players that include natural resources and agroecological systems, and actors that include farmers, processors, marketers, consumers, farmer organizations and policy makers, interact at various scales, from local to global. These all interact to create desired outcomes, unintended outcomes, and the capacity to adapt to changing conditions [3]. Global food systems are under increasing pressure to produce sufficient, nutritious, and safe food for the growing human population, to reduce negative environmental impacts of production, and to adapt to a changing climate [7,8,9]. Some of these large-scale challenges may be addressed, in part, by re-localizing and democratizing food systems [3]
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