Choosing modelling approaches for participatory food governance in city-regions. Comprehensive guidelines for a system-perspective selection

• Published in: Environmental science & policy 2023-07, Vol.145, p.139-150
• Main Authors: Sanz Sanz, Esther, Walthall, Beatrice, Napoleone, Claude, Vicente-Vicente, José-Luis, Hinojosa, Leonith, Piorr, Annette
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Food governance; Humanities and Social Sciences; Joint action; Participatory modelling; Regionalisation of food policy; Transdisciplinarity; Transition
• ISSN: 1462-9011; 1873-6416
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.03.021

As centres of consumption, knowledge and services under some political and administrative control, cities are acknowledged as strategic food governance transition nodes. Increasing stakeholder coordination and participation, however, means identifying pathways for transformative change and accelerating uptake of innovative and participatory modes of governance. We argue that modelling approaches, by helping to meet the three pre-conditions for participatory governance (relationship-building, shared understanding and experimentation) offer valuable input and can help establish ad hoc institutional space for redesigning food system governance. Based on a selective literature review, we define four key dimensions to consider when modelling for participatory food governance in city-regions: stakeholders’ involvement, process phases, capacity for joint action and use of a multi-sectoral and multi-scale approach. The state-of-the-art review presented in this paper focuses on seven modelling approaches that can meaningfully support stakeholder participation in food system transitioning processes, considering the specific context, objectives and available resources. The strengths and limitations of combined modelling approaches are illustrated and critically reviewed, using a concrete example from the Berlin city-region. This highlights the relevant contribution that modelling can make to creating new spaces for participatory food governance. •Modelling can be used to support new spaces for redesigning food system governance.•Modelling can help build relationships and a shared view, and promote experiments.•Dimensions considered: involvement, phase, capacity and multi-scale/multi- sector.•A modelling approach is context-, objective- and resource-dependent.•Comprehensive guidelines for a system-perspective selection are provided.