Reflections on participatory research and expertise at the United Nations

The aim of this study was to understand ‘institutional innovations’, i.e. the way in which institutions and actors adapt and change their rules with regard to local food systems. The main findings were that

i. incentives to adopt sustainable practices stem from the autonomy generated by the innovative rules put in place by local actors to interact on the market based on reciprocity and knowledge exchange ;

ii. to adapt their practices and create new markets, local players base their actions on social values: reliability, health, food sovereignty, mobilisation of young people, employment, etc;

iii. farmers, consumers, cooperatives, businesses, civil servants, NGOs, etc. innovate through their combined efforts to review their rules. Sustainability standards presuppose the cooperation of producers in improving their practices in terms of: guaranteeing access to a wider market; methods for maintaining contact and monitoring changes in the rules, etc.

Since 2016, the research activity has been converted into an action research approach based on researcher-actor workshops and the co-production of a practical manual to catalyse innovations in sustainable food systems. The direct experiences of the researchers and stakeholders led to a systematic analysis of over eighty innovations operating in more than twenty-five countries. The obstacles and levers to innovation were documented and organised in a text covering twelve areas fundamental to food systems (for example, inputs, consumers, financing, guarantees and formalisation of initiatives). This manual was tested in Senegal and India by local movements and a prospective scenario was developed to guide the reading and use of the manual.

Since it began in 2013, this project has generated 4 FAO/INRAE co-publications.

The “One Planet” network was officially launched in October 2015 and has more than 190 partners worldwide. Created in 2012 on the basis of the work of the FAO-UNEP “Sustainable Food Systems” programme, it aims to implement SDG 12 with the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture, the Swiss Federal Department of Agriculture and the WWF as leaders. The network is supported by a multilateral advisory group of 19 partners focusing on 4 themes: 1. raising awareness, 2. enabling framework, 3. knowledge/information and tools, and 4. synergies. With three of its agents, INRAE has managed theme 3 to understand and measure the sustainability of food systems through the creation of a database for a global view of these themes, enabling members to find out about existing tools.

Two international conferences have already been held on this subject.

Manuals have also been drawn up based on subjects that the par ticipants wanted to work on and/or on which they were looking for advice from various experts (for example, the “Collaborative Framework for Food Systems Transformation” run by the UN Environment and the initiative on reducing the use of plastics in food chains run for the WWF).

Among other productions, several booklets (PGSs) and videos Bhoomi Ka “India for Eco Food” on 4 challenges, which generated a host of ideas and various tools.

The next Global Conference on Sustainable Food Systems, to be held in November 2020 and organised by the Thai government, will produce a glossary of terms and look at the balance between research and expertise: difficulties, dissemination, co-construction of knowledge, etc.

Working with international organisations such as the FAO is a unique experience that enables researchers to develop programmes and policies, but also to forge a network and communicate with citizens. There are certain aspects to bear in mind: the administrative tasks, the difficulties of meeting managers’ expectations or working independently. In addition, low pay can act as a brake on progress.