Abstract
Transformations inherently involve systems change and because of the political nature of change, are subject to contestation. A potentially effective strategy to further transformative change that builds on interdisciplinary, multiactor, and multiscale-practices and values is the use of foresight. Foresight covers a wide range of methods to systematically investigate the future. Foresight exercises offer collaborative spaces and have the potential to conceptualize and even initiate transformative change. But there is no clear understanding of the possibilities and limitations of foresight in this regard. This explorative paper builds on foresight and sociology and interrogates the role of foresight in transformative change, building on four cases. These cases are embedded in different contexts and characterized by different organizational approaches and constellations of actors. Nevertheless, they share the common goal of transformative food systems change. By reflecting on the processes that play a role in foresight workshops, we analyze what created conditions for transformative change in these four empirical cases. We have operationalized these conditions by distinguishing layers in the structuring processes that influence the impact of the foresight process. Based on this analysis, we conclude that there are three roles, ranging from modest to more ambitious, that foresight can play in transformative change: preconceptualization of change; offering an avenue for the creation of new actor networks; and creation of concrete strategies with a high chance of implementation. Furthermore, contributing to future design of foresight processes for transformative change, we offer some crucial points to consider before designing foresight processes. These include the role of leading change makers (including researchers), the risk of co-option by more regime-driven actors, and the ability to attract stakeholders to participate.
Highlights
There is widespread consensus that making the world’s food systems sustainable in a manner that ensures food and nutritional security for all is one of today’s greatest challenges
We conclude that there are three roles, ranging from modest to more ambitious, that foresight can play in transformative change: preconceptualization of change; offering an avenue for the creation of new actor networks; and creation of concrete strategies with a high chance of implementation
Contributing to future design of foresight processes for transformative change, we offer some crucial points to consider before designing foresight processes
Summary
There is widespread consensus that making the world’s food systems sustainable in a manner that ensures food and nutritional security for all is one of today’s greatest challenges. Governance, as a broad system of decision making in the context of food systems, does involve policy making or the application of state authority, and civil society such as churchbased groups, charities, business groups, and social movements that are (pro)active in advocating for and acting on food system transformations It matters whether the need for transformative change is recognized as an urgent one at higher institutional and political levels. ANALYSIS Change processes are set in motion by actors’ actively (re) organizing or rebuilding food systems through forming new alliances, establishing new networks, and embedding new institutions Such processes need to harness and shape a future acceptable to a broad range of perspectives and actors, in order to make this change sustainable. =Provide input for national sustainability via urban on existing support improved rural policy food policy green solutions
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