‘Come aboard’ the systems-based approach: the role of social science in agri-food research and innovation

Abstract

Increasingly, systems-based approaches are taken in agri-food research and innovation (R&I). Such approaches also align with changes in science governance and new policies related to research impact and responsible research and innovation. However, taking a holistic view of food systems to maximise impact from R&I in a societally acceptable manner poses theoretical and methodological challenges. How can diverse actors come to occupy roles in forming and pursuing common visions towards more sustainable food systems? This paper focuses on how social science can activate, mediate and add rigour to systems-based approaches. An overview is presented of the policy context in which greater attention is paid to systems-based approaches and we present a framework to theoretically and practically support systems-based approaches: transdisciplinarity and the “multi-actor approach” (MAA). These approaches explain practically how different scientific contributions and non-scientific actors can be engaged and unified in creatively addressing R&I challenges. Overall, because social science is used to inform and deliver R&I outcomes that take into account the whole system of actors, their different values and expectations and their interactions and knowledge exchange, it is a crucial source of knowledge for advancing and meeting the challenges of systems-based approaches. Illustrating this, we present a profile of projects where social science has been applied to enhance R&I within a systems-based approach. However, we also signal caveats, qualifications and provisos in applying such approaches. This paper will be of interest to researchers and practitioners planning to incorporate social science to systems-based R&I initiatives to avoid pitfalls and add rigour.