Sustainability transitions: Insights on processes of niche-regime interaction and regime reconfiguration in agri-food systems. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bui, S.; Cardona, A.; Lamine, C.; Cerf, M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of rural studies. Volume 48(2017)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 103
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Sustainability transitions -- Multilevel perspective -- Niche-regime interactions -- Agri-food system -- Alternative food networks; Sociology, Rural -- Periodicals; Country life -- Periodicals; Rural development -- Periodicals; Land use, Rural -- Planning -- Periodicals; Rural conditions -- Periodicals; Sociologie rurale -- Périodiques; Vie rurale -- Périodiques; Développement rural -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation agricole du -- Planification -- Périodiques; Conditions rurales -- Périodiques; Country life; Land use, Rural -- Planning; Rural conditions; Rural development; Sociology, Rural; Periodicals; 307.72
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.10.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0743-0167

Abstract

Abstract: Changing farming practices is a major issue for sustainability. Such change is difficult to bring about because of strong lock-in effects within the agri-food system. Scholars have mobilized diverse approaches to address the issue of changes in agriculture, including the multi-level perspective (MLP). However, the mechanisms through which "niches" can contribute to regime reconfiguration are still unclear. In this article, we combine the diachronic and systemic approach from the MLP with insights from French pragmatic sociology and from the Alternative Food Networks literature. We analyse the trajectories of four initiatives, which can be considered as niches, as they associate various actors and develop radical innovations. Comparing their trajectories allows us to identify a generic pattern in niche development and niche-regime interactions. We identify regime reconfiguration mechanisms common to all four case studies. Niche activities and the enrolment of new actors lead to a gradual reconfiguration of the regime: first, through the construction of shared visions of agri-food issues and of the associated network of relevant actors; second, through their embedding in local policies and public action. Highlights: In an analysis of 4 niches, we identify a single pattern of niche-regime interaction. New visions of agri-food issues and their governance are developed inside the niches. Niche actors perform their embedding in the regime through enrolment processes. This induces some regime reconfiguration that we assess at the local scale. Redefining the network of relevant actors is crucial for regime reconfiguration to occur.