Abstract
This article adopts a systemic approach to address the problem of the operationalization of relationships between actors conducive to food self-sufficiency in urban areas. Through the use of Social Network Analysis (SNA), the literature on urban agriculture was analyzed, detecting eight key trends and topic areas. This information was used to design a generic recursive organizational structure with the identification of the key roles and functions for management and governance in the multi-level and multi-stakeholder relationships of a sustainable urban self-sufficient food production system, inspired by the principles of complexity management and organizational cybernetics. Methodologically, this is the first application that combines the exploratory capability of SNA and the recursive structure of the Viable System Model (VSM) to propose applicable organizational structures in any urban area, suggesting a new route for the study and application of systemic thinking in the development of urban agriculture schemes. However, due to the conceptual nature of this work, this study opens a discussion on how we can rethink interactions to seek continuous adaptation in food self-sufficiency, provide tools that foster inclusion, and adapt to every context to support the relevant actors and academics in urban agriculture.
Highlights
According to Schwaninger [1], the current social context exhibits accelerated changes
We suggest applying the principles of organizational cybernetics through the Viable System Model (VSM) as an alternative solution to the challenge of sustainability at different levels and, in turn, propose a recursive organizational structure that seeks food viability
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) [17] conceives food security as the physical and economic access that every person must have at all times to ensure their diets include safe and nutritious food, as well as the necessary food-supply preferences for living an active and healthy life, regardless of the origin of the Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW Sustainability 2020, 12, 7558
Summary
According to Schwaninger [1], the current social context exhibits accelerated changes. Williams et al [4] and Savaget et al [5] stated that sustainability-related problems have been addressed mainly from a linear or reductionist perspective In this regard, these possible solutions converge on the urgency of adopting a systemic perspective to deal with such situations, especially in problematic situations directly related to food self-sufficiency and the conceptual and operational frameworks to facilitate food supply. We suggest applying the principles of organizational cybernetics through the Viable System Model (VSM) as an alternative solution to the challenge of sustainability at different levels and, in turn, propose a recursive organizational structure that seeks food viability Within this systemic methodological framework [6], and considering the exploratory nature of this work, rather than a hypothesis, this article proposes the following conceptual proposal: the recursive structure of the VSM makes it possible to generate a framework of action and rethink the relationships between actors to promote food self-sufficiency. The ideas developed in this article concern the organizational domain and use the agriculture in urban areas as a context for their application, aiming to ensure food self-sufficiency
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