Designing Future Perspectives for Dairy Farming in Flanders

Abstract

Abstract This paper provides insight into perspectives for the desirable future of the Flemish dairy industry in twenty years. Globally, the dairy farming sector is facing numerous challenges, from encountering environmental barriers to economic uncertainty, growing consumer awareness and increased availability of technology, bringing both opportunities and threats to the sector.The dairy industry in Flanders is potentially reaching a threshold where changes in production methods are essential to overcome the aforementioned challenges. With such complex challenges it is essential to include different perspectives. Therefore, we created a transdisciplinary team where all members have different backgrounds, supported by coaches and specialists.The assumptions on the dairy industry were investigated through literature, stakeholders’ interviews, and farm visits. From these insights a system map was <target target-type="page-num" id="p-152"/>developed with the intention to develop futures through observing megatrends, trends, and novelties. We imagined the most optimal future around social and planetarian boundaries for some diverse personas, which helped to understand the complexity of future patterns and highlighted topics that needed more in-depth research. Five main topics of the current situation and the desirable futures were discussed: (i) Environmental impact of the dairy sector; (ii) Big and Small farms; (iii) Health and how ‘the planetary diet’ can be healthier while saving the planet; (iv) Consumer Behavior; and (v) Government Policy. As a result, the future personas are described as motivating why certain perspectives are desirable; perspective from a farmer with a small farm and one with a larger farm. These perspectives could inspire the co-creation of a sustainable future, involving consumers, farmers, as well as industries and policy makers.