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Layout: Rebecka Ridder, Maja-Catrin Riecher, Ika Darnhofer
Figures: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus- Senftenberg, University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde, Heike Schobert, Authors of papers
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Preface
Dear colleagues, students, and guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me warmly welcome you all to the eleventh European IFSA Symposium. During the next three days about 300 scientists from more than 30 countries join together to discuss global chal- lenges in the context of farming systems.
In fact, within short time this is the second international conference on issues of global sustain- ability that takes place at Humboldt-Universität: only two weeks ago we hosted a large meeting of the Global Land Project, a research initiative funded by the United Nations, on our natural sciences Campus Adlershof in the South-East of Berlin. The two conferences are similar not only with regard to their topics: both of them build on an interdisciplinary research approach; and both stand out due to their international orientation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The two core objectives of the farming systems approach are to address the complexity of real- world phenomena and to work on problems that are indeed relevant to farmers. Both of these goals require interdisciplinary collaboration, which is well-reflected in the tradition this confer- ence: IFSA Europe's bi-annual symposia have evolved into valuable platforms for dialogue be- tween scientists and practitioners from a wide range of theoretical backgrounds and methodologi- cal foci.
The history of IFSA delivers evidence that modern, problem-oriented research must also take place at the inter-section of disciplines. At Humboldt-Universität we are convinced of this fact.
We are determined to foster research across disciplinary boundaries, or – in organisational terms – across institutes and faculties. One of the measures we are currently taking to meet these ends is a rearrangement of our faculty structure. In a large, but common effort we have recently passed the details of this reform and are now in full process of implementing it. Among the new organ- isational units is the Faculty of Life Sciences, which – in fact – came into existence just yester- day. It comprises the Institutes of Biology and Psychology, as well as the Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, which is co-hosting this conference.
Let me stress that our former Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture has always united several disciplines and has encouraged students to think beyond their own field and connect to others. In the past, its researchers have collaborated with colleagues from medicine, the natural sciences, and the humanities – including the arts. Yet, the tight integration of the Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer Institute with other life sciences in a single Faculty will generate further potentials: it will facili- tate collaborations with neighbouring fields and stimulate the creation of new research topics at the interfaces.
Moreover, by our new faculty structure we aim to reinforce our ability to attract third-party funds and to cooperate with non-university research institutes. Already today the Albrecht-Thaer Insti- tute successfully networks with a host of partners. One of them is the Leibniz Centre for Agricul- tural Landscape Research, which is co-hosting this conference together with us. Another carrier for cooperation has been the Innovation Network Climate Change Adaptation Brandenburg Ber- lin. In fact, the scientific closing event of this large project has been part of the present confer- ence.
Improving cooperation across subjects and organisations is also our motivation behind a further, pathbreaking decision: we have founded three Interdisciplinary Research Institutes, or short IRIs, each of which serves as a platform for outstanding scientists to collaborate on common topics.
The concept of the IRIs builds on interdisciplinary breadth firmly grounded in disciplinary depth.
One of these new platforms is the Integrative Institute for Life Sciences. It plays a central role in developing the life sciences campus, where we plan to locate our entire Faculty of Life Sciences.
A second IRI with a strong link to agricultural research is the Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems, which spans all three of our University's cam- puses. This institute supports scientists from the humanities, the social and the natural sciences, who join minds to conduct research on issues of global sustainability. By the way, this demon- strates that we intend to make sustainability issues one of the core areas in our University’s re- search programme.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am glad to see that a characterising feature of IFSA's conferences is their internationality. Al- though predominantly focusing on European farming systems, non-European participation is en- couraged, because it is considered to add contrasts and comparisons of mutual benefit and to help to ensure scientific rigour and quality.
This leads me to the process of systematic international profile-building, which Humboldt- Universität is currently undergoing. We have set ourselves the goal to create the best conditions for globally competitive research and excellent teaching. Therefore, we are going to extend the strategic network of high-profile partnerships, which started with Princeton University and will include new, renowned partner universities. Also our KOSMOS programme, which supports summer universities and the exchange of researchers, has proven to be highly prosperous.
But these programmes are only part of the picture. Over the years, international researchers and students have become an integral part of Humboldt-Universität. Their role in research and teach- ing, as well as in academic self-governance and university life as a whole, enriches and shapes our University’s profile more than ever today. We are very happy that the number of our students and scientists from abroad is constantly rising.
It is you – international researchers – who bring international life into our University: you share your scientific expertise, ideas and personalities with us. But you also contribute to our interna- tional networking activities by creating new contacts with institutions in your countries of origin.
So once again, let me use this occasion to warmly welcome you on our campus. I wish you all an inspiring and successful conference here at Humboldt-Universität and hope that you will enjoy your time in Berlin.
Thank you for your kind attention!
Prof. Dr. Jan-Hendrik Olbertz (President of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
Content
PREFACE ... I CONTENT ... III
VOLUME 1
1 INTRODUCTION ... 1 Workshop Themes ... 1 Programme ... 4 The Arc of History
Keynote:JaniceJiggings,WageningenUniversity&ResearchCentre...5 The converging insecurities of food, water, energy and climate, and their implications for 21st Century farming systems
Keynote:AndrewCampbell,CharlesDarwinUniversity...6
2 PAPERS ... 7 INNOVATION, KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND LEARNING
Workshop 1.1: Actor-driven or instrument driven: Does it make a difference?
Convenors:JesúsRosalesCarreón,FleurMarchandandLiesDebruyne...7 Different perspectives on animal health and implications for communication between
stakeholders
SusanneHoischenͲTaubner,AlexandraBieleckeandAlbertSundrum...8 Farmers’ rationality in soil management: which factors influence implementation of
sustainable management practices in soil conservation? – A case study in Germany and Austria
MagdalenaWerner,HorstͲHenningSteinmann,NormanSchlatter,HeideSpiegel,ErwinWautersand
GreetRuysschaert... ...17 Using games to support multi-stakeholder decision-making for sustainable development of livestock production
E.M.deOldeandI.J.M.deBoer...24 Development and evaluation of an on-demand sustainability tool in Flanders
Coteur,Ine;Marchand,Fleur;Debruyne,Lies;Bijttebier,Jo;Triste,LaureandLauwers,Ludwig...38 Next Generation Decision Support Systems for Farmers: Sustainable Agriculture through Sustainable IT
JessicaLindblom,ChristinaLundströmandMagnusLjung...49
Linkage processes between niche and regime: an analysis of Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture across Europe
J.Ingram,N.Curry,J.Kirwan,D.MayeandK.Kubinakova...58 Approaching initiatives stimulating sustainable farming as characteristics of learning
practices
LaureTriste,FleurMarchand,JokeVandenabeele,LiesDebruyne,IneCoteurandLudwigLauwers...69 Workshop 1.2: Evaluation of policy schemes supporting innovation and advisory services: new concepts, methodologies and case studies
Convenors:SusannevonMünchhausen,AnnaM.Häring,HenrikeRieken,KristinDavis,PierreLabarthe, AndreaKnierim,MichaelKüglerandSabineO’Hara...81
‘Failing’ to implement FAS under diverse extension contexts: a comparative account of Greece and Cyprus
AlexKoutsouris... ...82 Advisory services in the United Kingdom: exploring ‘fit for purpose’ criteria
KatrinPrager,RachelCreaneyandAlteaLorenzoͲArribas...91 Evaluating a Co-innovation Policy Initiative in New Zealand
JeffCoutts,NeelsBothaandJamesA.Turner...110 Advisory Services in System of Agricultural Knowledge and Information in Poland
JozefKania,KrystynaVinohradnikandAgnieszkaTworzyk...120 Systemic problems hampering innovation in the New Zealand Agricultural Innovation
System
JamesA.Turner,KellyRijswijk,TracyWilliams,LaurensKlerkxandTimBarnard...131 Farm Innovation through Rural Development Programmes 2014-2020: an evaluation model of the EIP
SimonaCristianoandPatriziaProietti...141 Advisory services within national AKIS – concepts and empirical evidence from selected EU member states
Knierim,A.,Boenning,K.,Caggiano,M.,Cristóvão,A.,Dirimanova,V.,Koehnen,T.,Labarthe,P.andK.
Prager... ...153 Analysis of the Role of an Innovation Broker Appointed by an Environmental Innovation Partnership in the Cotton Industry, Queensland, Australia
OliveHood,JeffCoutts,GusHamiltonandJaniceJiggins...166 Linking Innovation and Research in Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems
KrijnPoppe... ...180 How to address up-scaling and sustainability of innovative advisory services: the case of
management advice for family farms in Africa
GuyFaure,AurélieToillierandIsmailMoumouni...190 From the “best fit” to the “big fuss”: the lost opportunities of the Italian advisory services MonicaCaggianoandPierreLabarthe...205
Workshop 1.3: Innovation Platforms as Drivers of Institutional Change
Convenors:JaniceJiggins,RayIsonandNielsRöling...215 A consultation process for developing an innovation agenda for Regional Water Productivity in Australia: the case of a fledgling innovation platform in research
MargaretAyre,RuthNettleandManuelaErazoBobenrieth...216 Using Co-innovation to Stimulate Innovation in the New Zealand Agricultural Sector
NeelsBotha,LaurensKlerkx,BruceSmallandJamesA.Turner...232 Two steps forward and one step back: Progress towards innovation platforms for
Agricultural Workforce development in Australia
RuthNettleandJenniferMoffatt...240
“Fairebel” fair milk: a multi-level innovation
MarlèneFeyereisenandFrançoisMélard...254 Learning to change farming and water managing practices in response to challenges of
climate change and sustainability
ChrisBlackmore... ...262 Script or improvisation? Institutional conditions and their local operation
BarbaravanMierloandEdmondTotin...273 Innovation from a discursive perspective: Discourses and accountability in pig farming policies
MaartenCrivits... ...284 Agricultural Research: From Recommendation Domains to Arenas for interaction.
Experiences from West Africa
Röling,N.,Jiggins,J.,HounkonnouD.andvanHuis,A....299 Programmes, projects and learning inquiries: institutional mediation of innovation in
research for development
Ison,R.L.,Carberry,P.,Davies,J.,Hall,A.,McMillan,L.,Maru,Y.,Pengelly,B.,Reichelt,N.,Stirzaker,R., Wallis,P.,Watson,I.andWebb,S...311 Innovations for institutional change towards adaptive co-management of human inhabited National Park in Mozambique
NíciaGiváandNadarajahSriskandarajah...324 Innovation platforms for Institutional change: the case of Pesticide Stewardship Network in the Ethiopian Rift Valley
TadesseAmeraandNadarajahSriskandarajah...337 Unravelling group dynamics in institutional learning processes
WiebkeWellbrockandAndreaKnierim...350 Insights from the New Zealand experiment in Farmer First Research
JanetReidandRobBrazendale...357 Agricultural innovation platforms in West Africa: How does strategic institutional
entrepreneurship unfold in different value chain contexts?
AnnemarievanPaassen,LaurensKlerkx,SamuelAdjeiͲNsiah,RichardAduͲAcheampong,BaraOuologuem andElisabethZannou... ...366
Workshop 1.4: The development of more entrepreneurial farming systems and the move towards a more farm-level approach in innovation and learning
Convenors:PieterSeuneke,ThomasLansandMartinMulder...377 Learning to run a business: transforming charcoal production of family farmers in Santa Catarina, Brazil
AlfredoCelsoFantiniandSandroLuisSchlindwein...378 Assessing learning regimes leading to sustainable intensification at the farm level: a new
perspective for management assistance for family farms
ToillierAurélie,BaudoinAliceandChiaEduardo...385 Can management advice to small-scale farmers trigger strategic thinking?
AurelledeRomémont,GuyFaureandCatherineMacombe...396 Doing the Unthinkable: Linking Farmers’ Breadth of View and Adaptive Propensity to the Achievement of Social, Environmental and Economic Outcomes
LesleyM.Hunt,JohnR.Fairweather,ChrisJ.RosinandHughCampbell...408 Innovation and Social Learning in Agricultural Systems. Case Study: Murcia, Spain
MaríaRivera,AnaTeresaHerreraandIgnaciodelosRíos...416 Toward an integrative perspective on learning in innovation initiatives: The case of the Dutch greenhouse sector
PieterJ.Beers,AnneͲCharlotteHoesandBarbaravanMierlo...425 Workshop 1.5: Returning to the farming and food systems as they are - Action and phenomenon based learning as prerequisite for transdisciplinarity
Convenors:GeirLieblein,EdvinØstergaardandTorArvidBreland...433 Bridging the Gap between Academia and Food System Stakeholders
CharlesFrancis,GeirLieblein,TorArvidBreland,EdvinØstergaard,SuzanneMorseandAnnaMarie
Nicolaysen... ...434 Facilitating International Doctoral Education: Agroecology & Capacity Building
LennartSalomonsson,MargaritaCuadra,CharlesFrancisandGeirLieblein...444 Involved PhD research – a case study between agronomy and social sciences
StephanieKlaedtke,VéroniqueChableandPierreStassart...452 Creating Student Confidence for Communication with Farmer Stakeholders
MaryWiedenhoeft,PaulPorter,RobertDeHaanandCharlesFrancis...461 Assessing Agroecology Education: Qualitative Analysis of Student Learner Documents
AnnaMarieNicolaysen,TorArvidBreland,GeirLieblein,SuzanneMorseandCharlesFrancis...470 Engaging researchers with Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture (LINSAs)
AnnaAugustynandGusztavNemes...478 Experiential Learning in a Transdisciplinary Setting – Learning from Experiences in Rural Development studies
SusanneHofmannͲSouki,JuanaCruzMorales,JanyJarquín,MyriamParedesCauca,RonaldHerreraand MaríaRosaYumbla... ...487
Transdisciplinarity as an emergent property in an agricultural research for development project
W.D.Bellotti... ...501 MSc Agriculture students working with ex-campus stakeholders: first experiences and
challenges
VibekeLanger,MogensLundandMiraArpeBendevis...514 Workshop 1.6: Linking scientists and farmers, research and application - methods of on-farm research projects in livestock sciences
Convenors:ChristineLeeb,ChristophWincklerandKatharinaSchodl...521 Economic efficiency of small group housing and aviaries for laying hens in Germany
PetraThobe... ...522 Linking researchers, advisers and livestock farmers in a multidisciplinary approach to
analysing working conditions on farms
FKlingͲEveillard,AnnieDufour,SylvieCournut,NathalieHostiou,SophieChauvatandGérardServière...529 A deductive approach to animal health planning in organic dairy farming: Method
description
MargretSelle,SusanneHoischenͲTaubnerandAlbertSundrum...540 A normative planning device to link economics with practice: the case of up scaling in dairy farming
J.Hamerlinck,J.Buysse,L.LauwersandJ.VanMeensel...549 Balancing multiple objectives in Southland, New Zealand: Performance of dairy cow
wintering systems
D.E.Dalley,J.B.Pinxterhuis,M.Hunter,TGeddesandG.Verkerk...557 Benefits and challenges of the on-farm implementation of measures aimed at integrating aspects of sustainability into pig fattening
KatharinaSchodl,ChristineLeebandChristophWinckler...566 Workshop 1.7: Collaborative learning to solve problems and develop innovations in complex systems: focus on methodologies
Convenors:BrigitteKaufmann,ChristianHülsebuschandAnjaChristinck...573 Collaborative learning for self-driven change in complex situations
M.J.Restrepo,M.A.Lelea,A.Christinck,C.HülsebuschandB.Kaufmann...574 Initial diagnosis of local context for agricultural development projects: cognitive maps to conceptualize socio-ecological systems and elicit stakeholders' viewpoints
TardivoCaroline,DelmotteSylvestre,LePageChristophe,BarbierJeanͲMarcandCittadiniRoberto...589 Agricultural viability in a water-deficit basin: can participatory modelling and design
activities trigger collaboration between water management and agriculture stakeholders?
ClémentMurgue,OlivierTherondandDelphineLeenhardt...600 From information giving to mutual scenario definition: Stakeholder participation towards Sustainable Rubber Cultivation in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China
Aenis,ThomasandWang,Jue...618
Integration of knowledge in inter- and transdisciplinary research projects: Use of Constellation Analysis in a project of sustainable land use management
MartinaSchäfer,MelanieKrögerandJanaRückertͲJohn...626 A co-development approach to investigating wintering options on dairy farms in southern New Zealand
D.E.Dalley,J.B.Pinxterhuis,M.Hunter,TGeddesandITarbotton...636 Multi-level joint learning about locally managed innovation funds
AnnWatersͲBayer,LaurensvanVeldhuizenandCheshaWettasinha...644 Evaluating innovative scenarios to enhance mixed crop-livestock farm sustainability: a
partnership methodology based on farmers’ long-term strategies
RyschawyJ,JoannonAandGibonA...654 Reflections on and lessons from a deliberative process for water management – a New
Zealand case study
DeniseBewsell,BruceSmall,andKellyRijswijk...663
‘Shift happens’: Co-constructing transition pathways towards the regional sustainability of agriculture in Europe
McKee,A.,HolsteadK.,SutherlandL.A.,PintoͲCorreia,T.andGuimarães,H...678 Re-thinking agricultural practices to improve water quality: two participatory
methodologies for collaborative learning
ChantreEmilia,ProstLorène,GuichardLaurenceandReauRaymond...688 From systematization to learning
JorgeChavezͲTafur,TeobaldoPinzasandTeresaGianella...701 Changing institutional culture: PM&E in transdisciplinary research for development
OlegNiceticandElskevandeFliert...711 Establishing transdisciplinary research and learning environments for rural development – a network and process model
SusanneHofmannͲSouki,ÁlvaroAcevedoOsorio,TeresitaCamachoBernal,WolfgangBokelmann,Juana CruzMorales,MarioLópezandMaríaRosaYumbla...718 Innovative governance and dynamics of cognitive models for agriculture in territorial
development Lessons from a collaborative research program
AndréTorreandFrédéricWallet...734 Workshop 1.8: Knowledge and innovation brokers: lubricating knowledge development and innovation networks
Convenors:EelkeWielinga,LaurensKlerksandMichaelKuegler...745 Exploring the emerging ‘intermediation’ (facilitation and brokerage) roles in agricultural extension
AlexKoutsouris... ...746 Modeling transdisciplinary cooperation in the agriculture sector for European Innovation Partnerships
KatharinaDiehlandAnitaBeblek...756 Third party roles of brokers in temporary knowledge networks
BarbaraKingandRuthNettle...768
Efficient knowledge systems for supporting irrigation technologies in horticulture
BettinaKönig... ...780 Transition towards low-input cropping systems: characterization of actionable knowledge for technical change
ToffoliniQuentin,JeuffroyMarieͲHélèneandProstLorène...790 Acting as Agricultural Innovation brokerage in Italy: experiences from the Rural
Development Programmes 2007-2013
SimonaCristianoandPatriziaProietti...803 Become a broker: the metamorphosis of an advisor
PatriziaProiettiandGianlucaBrunori...813 Concepts for Co-Creating Innovations in the EIP
EelkeWielinga... ...824 How to strengthen the link between advisors and research in a privatized advisory system?
The case of Brandenburg, Germany
UlrikeKnuth,AndreaKnierim...835 Government stimulation of operational groups for innovation in agriculture. Understanding the framing of the government support to knowledge exchange network groups in the
Netherlands, as an example for Europe
MonicaA.M.Commandeur... 844 Workshop 1.9: Farmland (bio-)diversity in the hands and minds of farmers: Farming systems approaches to landscape protection and biodiversity preservation
Convenors:RobertHome,MaiannSuhner,SilviaTobias...855 Green belts in the hands and minds of farmers: A socio-agronomical approach to farmers’
practices
FrançoiseAlavoineͲMornasandSabineGirard...856 The Clash between Global Master-plans and Local Contexts: conflicts and contradictions within initiatives for payment of ecosystem services in Brazil and Nepal
KristinaMarquardt,ÖrjanBartholdson,AdamPain,RobertoPorroandLennartSalomonsson...866 Provision of Public Goods Through Mountain Meadows and Pastures in Aosta Valley (Italy) PatriziaBorsotto,SylvieChaussodandStefanoTrione...876 Farmer Supported Biodiversity Conservation in Uttarakhand, India
AnnaMarieNicolaysen,CharlesFrancisandGeirLieblein...885 Mountain agriculture at the crossroads, biodiversity, culture, and modernization, conflicting and interacting interests
PaulinaRytkönen,MadeleineBonowandPatrickDinnétz...893 Toward redesigning the relationship between farming systems and biodiversity
conservation
BrédartDavid,DenayerDorothéeandMormontMarc...905 Sustainable landscape management – the view from the grassroots
KatrinPrager... ...912 Motivations for implementation of ecological compensation areas on Swiss farms
RobertHome,OliverBalmer,IngridJahrl,MatthiasStolzeandLukasPfiffner...924
VOLUME 2
FEEDING THE FUTURE WITH SUSTAINABLE AGRO-FOOD SYSTEMS:
ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION VIEWS AND APPROACHES
Workshop 2.1: Healthy growth in value-based chains: From niche to volume with integrity and trust
Convenors:HildeBjørkhaug,HandanGiray,GunnͲTuridKvamandEgonNoe...931 Dynamics and stability in growth of values based food chains: Understanding organizational evolution in organic food systems
KlausBrøndLaursenandEgonNoe...932 Policy goals, research needs and research regarding organic sector in Finland
HelmiRiskuͲNorja,MinnaMikkolaandJaakkoNuutila...942 Institutional Adaptive Capacity of Organic Farmer Associations in growing Organic
Agrifood Systems
ValentinFiala,BernhardFreyer,RebeccaPaxtonandJimBingen...954 Conventionalization or diversification? – Development in the Danish organic production sector following market expansion
MartinThorsøeandEgonNoe...965 State of the art review - On healthy growth initiatives in the mid-scale values-based chain of organic food
GunnͲTuridKvamandHildeBjørkhaug...976 The perception of organic values and ways of communicating them in mid-scale values based food chains
ChristophFurtscheggerandMarkusSchermer...988 Strategies for medium-sized values-based food chains during growth processes
Muenchhausen,S.v.,Schulz,K.,Haering,A.M.andLlamasVacas,R...999 Evaluation of agroecology policy schemes in Andalusia driving cooperation initiatives for the mid-scale distribution and consumption
Ramos,MaríaandTorremocha,Eva...1008 Workshop 2.2: Transition Issues in Production, Marketing and Consumption for the Agro-
Ecological Development of Animal Production
Convenors:YolandaMenaGuerrero,FranciscodeAsísRuizMoralesandJeanͲPaulDubeuf...1019 The untied qualification processes impacts on the argan territorial productive systems and on the “food social space” changes
ThierryLinckandHermilioNavarro...1020 Developing small goat holders to face food security, poverty and environmental challenges.
Lessons from a comparative analysis in different regions of the world (governance, markets, production systems) for experiencing successful projects
JeanͲPaulDubeuf... ...1032
How public policies on livestock sectors could support innovations and transitions toward a renewed pastoralism in Corsica. A contribution to a prospective approach on the future of pastoralism
JeanͲPaulDubeuf... ...1043 Actions to increase the sustainability of sheep production systems in Mediterranean
disadvantaged areas: The case of the Lojeña sheep breed
F.A.RuizͲMorales,C.Lara,Y.MenaandR.Gutiérrez...1053 Marketing improvement of organic meat and milk in Andalusia through the enhancement of the environmental role of this production model
Mena,Y,GutiérrezͲPeña,R.,RuizͲMoralesF.A.,Damian,M.,Aguirre,I.,FernandezͲRebollo,P.and
Horcada,A... ...1059 International Finance Institutions hamper transition to higher welfare systems in animal production
NicolasEntrup... ...1067 Transition toward systems linking animal genetic resources, low input farming systems and products processed on the farm; development logics of the Bretonne Pie Noir local cattle breed
LauvieA.,CouixN.andSorbaJ.M...1077 Qualifying the Corsican cheeses as pastoral products: Issues for market mediations
JeanMichelSorbaandMelissaAitMouloud...1085 Workshop 2.4: The role of Localized Agrifood Systems in a Globalised Europe
Convenors:AndreaMarescotti,GiovanniBelletti,ArturCristóvão,DominiqueBarjolle,François
CasabiancaandPaulinaRytkönen...1095 The effects of the legal protection Geographical indications: PDO/PGIs in Tuscany
BellettiGiovanni,BrazziniAlessandroandMarescottiAndrea...1096 A crop model as an “intermediary object”: Lessons from a participatory research on the agronomical bases of PGI Corsican Clementine typicity
RaphaelBelmin,FrançoisCasabianca,JeanMarcMeynard...1108 Alternative Food Networks in Piedmont: farmers’ direct sales and urban consumers
AlessandroCorsi,SilviaNovelliandGiacomoPettenati...1121 The aptitude to promote value creation in GI areas through the adoption of rural
development policies
MarcelloDeRosa,FeliceAdinolfi,LucaBartoliandSilviaChiappini...1132 Institutionalizing short food supply chains for sustainable resource management:
challenging issues
MarieDervilléandFrédéricWallet...1142 Is “local” enough? New localised food networks in the Swiss dairy industry
JérémieForneyandIsabelHäberli...1156 Can systems using hyper specialized breeds be considered as localized agrifood systems?
The example of the Belgian Texel breed
LauvieAnneandStassart,P...1166
Territorial anchorage of French dairy ewes sectors: Historical analysis of interdependence between given localized agrifood systems
Millet,MorganeandCasabianca,François...1174 Comparing registration efforts for Protected Geographical Indications in Austria,
Colombia and Italy
XiomaraF.QuiñonesR.,ElisaBarzini,GiovanniBelletti,FriedrichLeitgeb,AndreaMarescotti,Marianne Penker,LuisF.SamperG.andSilviaScaramuzzi...1186 Constructing the new rurality– challenges and opportunities of a recent shift in Swedish rural policies
PaulinaRytkönen... ...1195 Defining a set of attributes and indicators to evaluate the multidimensional performance of local to global food value chains: thoughts from Switzerland
SchmittEmilia,CraveroVirginia,BellettiGiovanni,MarescottiAndrea,BrunoriGianlucaandBarjolle
Dominique... ...1206 Resilience to Strategies to Loose Strictness of Specification Sheets in GI Consortia
KatiaL.SidaliandSilviaScaramuzzi...1215 The Role of Values in Farmers’ Markets; Comparative Case Studies in Minneapolis and Vienna
MilenaKlimek,JimBingenandBernhardFreyer...1225 Workshop 2.5: Achieving co-benefits for sustainability and health through alternative agro- food systems
Convenors:RebeccaPaxton,BernhardFreyerandMilenaKlimek...1237 Austrian organic farmers’ perceptions of the relevance of environmental influences for health promotion
Paxton,R.,Freyer,B.,Leisch,F.andBingen,J...1238 Contribution of short food supply chains to sustainability and health
OttoSchmid,GianlucaBrunori,FrancescaGalli,PietervandeGraaf,AlistairPriorandRobertoRuiz...1247 Workshop 2.6: Integrative and interdisciplinary approaches to the ecologisation of agrifood
systems
Convenors:ClaireLamine,BenoîtDedieuandGianlucaBrunori...1255 Technical and commercial change during transition to organic farming: towards a
methodological approach based on the scope of the leaps forwards
CarolinePetitandChristineAubry...1256 Upscaling grassroots innovation for sustainable agriculture: experiences from the Dutch dairy sector
FransHermans,DirkRoepandLaurensKlerkx...1267 An innovation systems model for innovation research in the bio-economy
JonasVanLanckerandKoenMondelaers...1278 Towards more sustainable agri-food chains: a new conceptual framework
MarianneHubeau,KoenMondelaers,IneCoteur,FleurMarchandandLudwigLauwers...1293 Practising agroecology: management principles drawn from small farming in Misiones
(Argentina)
GirardN.,MagdaD.,NosedaC.andSarandonS...1307
TATA-BOX: “Territorial Agroecological Transition in Action”: a tool-Box for designing and implementing a transition to a territorial agroecological system in agriculture
JacquesͲEricBergez,MichelDuru,LaurentHazardandOlivierTherond...1317 How to break out the lock-in on crop diversification in France?
MarianneLeBail,MarieͲBenoîtMagrini,M’handFares,AntoineMesséan,AudeCharlier,François
CharrierandJeanͲMarcMeynard...1328 Diversifying strategies of agricultural cooperatives towards agro-ecological transition
P.Martin,C.Bouty,A.BarbottinandM.LeBail...1340 Improving resource efficiency of low-input farming systems through integrative design – two case studies from France
MichalKulak,ThomasNemecek,EmmanuelFrossardandGérardGaillard...1348 An approach for assessing the ecological intensification of livestock systems
LudmilaCoutoGomes,JeanͲYvesPailleux,BenoitDedieu,ClaudeteReginaAlcaldeandSylvieCournut...1352 Integrating crop and livestock activities at territorial level in the watershed of Aveyron river: from current issues to collective innovative solutions
MoraineMarc,GrimaldiJuliette,MurgueClément,DuruMichelandTherondOlivier...1364 Crossing two niches of agroecological innovation: the case of organic farming and
conservation agriculture
AudreyVankeerberghenandPierreM.Stassart...1378 Describing the evolutions, in a territory, of the interactions between livestock farming
systems and downstream operators. Proposal for a methodological framework, based on the comparison of 4 territories and 2 types of production: milk and meat
M.O.Nozieres,V.Baritaux,S.Cournut,M.GedouinandS.Madelrieux...1386 The co-production of sustainability by learning networks. The case of reconstruction of
knowledge and practices around bread production
RossiAdanella,DvortsinLeoandMalandrinVanessa...1398 From genetics to marketing (… and through complex connexions and interdependencies):
an integrative approach of the ecologisation of fruit production
ClaireLamine,JeanͲMarcAudergon,ServanePenvern,SylvaineSimonandJeanPluvinage...1410 Workshop 2.7: Sustainability of Dairy Farms – Concepts, Measurements and Empirical
Results
Convenors:LudwigTheuvsen,BirtheLassenandMonikaZehetmeier...1423 Sustainability of Management-intensive Grazing Dairy Farms versus Conventional
Confinement Dairy Farms
DaleM.Johnson,JamesC.Hanson,RaymondR.Weil,RachelGilker,EricLichtenbergandKotaMinegishi1424 Strategies for increasing dairy production while controlling environmental footprint on
dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand
D.E.Dalley,J.B.Pinxterhuis,D.Chapman,G.Edwards,K.Cameron,H.Di,P.BeukesandA.Romera...1432 Sustainability of living systems within milk production in need of resources and regulation AlbertSundrum... ...1440 Evaluating the impact of intensification of dairy production on the sustainability and
environmental safety
H.SommerandG.Leithold...1449
Implementation of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies on organic, grazing and conventional dairy farms
VictorE.CabreraandMarionDutreuil...1456 Carbon footprint and energy consumption of Luxembourgish dairy farms
RoccoLioy,TomDusseldorf,AndréMeier,RomainRedingandSteveTurmes...1467 A life cycle assessment case study of the carbon footprint of high performance Irish, UK and USA dairy farms
D.O’Brien,J.L.Capper,P.C.Garnsworthy,C.GraingerandL.Shalloo...1476 Economic Assessment of Dairy Farm Production in Kosovo
HysenBytyqi,MentorThaqi,FatmaHoxha,ArianMisini,BlerimHaxhija,HajripMehmetiandVictorE.
Cabrera... ...1486 Environmental, social and economic aptitudes for sustainable viability of sheep farming
systems in northern Spain
Batalla,M.I.,PintoM.anddelHierro,O....1493 Linking practice to policy: Dairy farmers’ understanding of ecosystem services for long term farm sustainability
MagnusLjungandKristinaMarquardt...1503 Economic impacts of strategy selection in Austrian dairy farming: an empirical assessment S.Kirchweger,M.EderandJ.Kantelhardt...1514 A slacks-based Data Envelopment Analysis framework to identify differences in
sustainability patterns between four contrasting dairy systems
ADSoteriades,PFaverdin,MMarchandAWStott...1522 Workshop 2.8: Farming the cities: Exploring the role of agriculture and food in enabling
sustainable urban food systems
Convenors:AuroraCavallo,FrancescaGiarèandClaraCicatiello...1531 Mainstreaming Urban Agriculture in the Middle East and North Africa: a multi-
stakeholder approach
SalwaTohméTawk,ZiadMoussaandShadiK.Hamadeh...1532 Feeding the City - Foodsheds and Urban Agriculture in San Diego
ManuelaRicci,ClaudiaMattogno,BrunoMonardo,AnnaLauraPalazzoandPietroAntonioValentino...1539 Sustainable development for a model of agriculture in the metropolitan systems
AlbertoPirani,AnnaGaviglioandMattiaBertocchi...1549 Exploring the role of Farmers in Short Food Supply Chain: the case of Italy
LuigiMastronardi,DavideMarino,AgostinoGiannelliandMariannaGagliano...1563 The local agrifood systems in face of changes in urban rural relationship: the foodscape of Rome
CavalloAurora,GuadagnoRossellaandMarinoDavide...1587 Food and beyond. Multifunctional farms in the metropolitan context of Rome
StefanoGrando,RobertoHenke,LiviaOrtolaniandFrancescoVanni...1597 Between research and action: problems and conflicts arising in the construction of the MAP of the Solidarity Purchasing Groups in Rome
CristinaSalvioniandMariaFonte...1611
Local Food Systems: Opportunities and Threats in creation of local model in Lombardy(IT) AndreaPorro,GiovanniFerrazzi,RobertoSpigarolo,StefanoCorsiandStefanoBocchi...1622 The extent of urban agriculture and its contribution to food security in low income areas:
The case of Msunduzi Local Municipality in South Africa
M.Mudhara,U.Kolanisi,J.ChitjaandK.Naidoo...1631 AFNs in periurban areas: the meeting of food demand and supply as an emergent issue
R.Filippini,E.MarracciniandS.Lardon...1643 School food procurement and Sustainability in northern England and Wales
MarkStein... ...1653 Multi-actor organization for urban food systems: short but collaborative supply chains
Redlingshöfer,B.,TraversacJ.B.,Messmer,J.G.andAubryC....1661 A meeting point between agricultural producers and consumers: the Italian Solidarity
Purchasing Groups case study
BorriIlaria,BorsottoPatriziaandAgugliaLaura...1670 Growing food for self-consumption inside cities: lessons learnt from urban allotment
gardens in Paris and Montreal
JeannePourias... ...1681 Workshop 2.9: Greening the CAP
Convenors:MonicaCommandeurandFlaminiaVentura...1693 Posters: Greening the CAP yourself – Agricultural knowledge exchange networks:
Example network 1: “Let’s use half as much herbicides (SMS)”; Example network 2:
“Pigs and landscape improvement”
MonicaA.M.Commandeur...1694 Determining the feeding value and digestibility of the leaf mass of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and various types of clover
H.SommerandA.Sundrum...1698 CAP vs farmers: which beliefs move incentives
FrancescoDiotallevi,FlaminiaVenturaandGaetanoMartino...1705 Workshop 2.11: Larger fields, faster tractors, GPS, milk robots, automated egg production, … Does this type of agricultural change contribute to lasting prosperity and resilience?
Convenors:KarlheinzKnickel,IkaDarnhoferandMarkRedman...1721 Rice, Smallholder Farms, and Climate Change in Bangladesh: Policy Suggestions for
Climate and Social Resilience
M.MizanurRahman,BradleyKleesandTasfiSalͲsabil...1722 Development trajectories of mountain dairy farms in the globalization era. Evidence from the Vercors (French Northern Alps)
SophieMadelrieux,MédullineTerrier,DominiqueBorgandLaurentDobremez...1732 Swedish Pig Farming from a Degrowth Perspective
ErikaÖhlund... ...1742
Changes and resistance in family farming systems facing the agricultural intensification model in emerging countries. The example of Paraná State in Brazil
DimasSoaresJúnior,PhilippePedelahore,NathalieCialdellaandRicardoRalisch...1753 Motivation for increased production among Norwegian farmers
MagnarForbordandJosteinVik...1761 The local landscape attractiveness as the ground for innovative land management:
acknowledging new place based interactions for resilient farm systems
TeresaPintoͲCorreiaandCarlaGonzalez...1771 Resilience of family farms: understanding the trade-offs linked to diversification
IkaDarnhoferandAgnesStrauss...1777 Subsistence and semi-subsistence farming in Hungary. From modernisation to ecological and social sustainability
ImreKovách... ...1788 How ICT is changing the nature of the farm: a research agenda on the economics of big data
KrijnPoppe,SjaakWolfertandCorVerdouw...1801
“We manage what we can at pace we can”: small farmers’ development strategies in turbulent context in post-socialist Latvia
TalisTisenkopfsandSandraŠƻmane...1813 What determines the flexibility of farming systems? A case-study of the bovine farming sector in Belgium
ErwinWautersandFrankwinvanWinsen...1827 Resilient farmers’ strategies and policy regulations: the quest for modernization on Dutch and Italian dairy farms
PaulSwagemakers,PierluigiMilone,FlaminiaVenturaandXavierSimónFernández...1835 Assessment of two modern milk farms (low input versus high external input) in Switzerland focused on sustainability and resilience criteria
OttoSchmidandPhilippeNäf...1845 Farmers’ perception on options for farm development in a situation of limiting nearby
surroundings
R.G.Methorst,D.Roep,F.J.H.M.VerheesandJ.A.A.M.Verstegen...1851 More sheep, more space…but not any tractor! Is farm enlargement (always) damageable regarding sustainability in French Mediterranean mountains?
JacquesLasseur,LucieDupreandJuliaSicard...1861 Well-functioning landscapes – on re-coupling agricultural and rural development
LoneSøderkvistKristensen,TobiasPlieninger,JørgenPrimdahlandErlingAndersen...1872 An attempt to clarify the resilience concept for renewed strategies of agricultural and farm modernization
KarlBruckmeierandGunillaOlsson...1881
CLIMATE CHANGE: FARMING SYSTEM APPROACHES TO MITIGATION AND ADAPTION
Workshop 3.1: Soil management: facilitating on-farm mitigation and adaption
Convenors:JulieIngramm,SandraNaumanandJanVerhagen...1893 Assessing farmers’ intention to adopt soil conservation practices across Europe
BijttebierJ.,RuysschaertG.,MarchandF.,Hijbeek,R.,Pronk,A.,Schlatter,N.,Guzmán,G.,Syp,A.,
Werner,M.,Bechini,L.,Guiffant,N.andWautersE....1894 Barriers to adopting best management practices aiming at soil fertility and GHG mitigation across dairy farmers in The Netherlands
R.Hijbeek,A.A.Pronk,H.tenBerge,M.vanIttersum,G.RuysschaertandJ.Verhagen...1903 Management practices to enhance soil carbon: using stakeholder consultation to evaluate credibility, salience and legitimacy of information
JulieIngramandJaneMills...1911 Achieving improved soil management on-farm – insights from a New Zealand case study JanetReid... ...1920 Soil carbon management for climate change mitigation and adaptation: framing and
integrating the issue in the evolving policy environment
AnaFrelihͲLarsen,SandraNaumannandElizabethDooley...1929 Workshop 3.2: Agroforestry research and practice in Europe
Convenors:DirkFreese,PierluigiParis,M.R.MosqueraͲLosadaandPaulBurgess...1937 Decision-Making Factors for Agrowood Cultivation- A Qualitative Research for
Brandenburg/Germany
SarahKeutmannandDr.PhilippGrundmann...1938 Assessing ecosystem services in perennial intercropping systems – participatory action
research in Swedish modern agroforestry
JohannaBjörklund,KarinEksvärdandChristinaSchaffer...1950 Effect of liming and organic fertilisation on soil organic matter in a silvopastoral system
under Populus x canadensis Moench
MosqueraͲLosada,M.R.,RigueiroͲRodríguez,A.andFerreiroͲDomínguez,N....1960 Innovative Alley coppice Systems-mixing timber and bioenergy woody crops: 7 years growth and ecophysiological results in experimental plots in northern Italy, Po Valley PierluigiParis,SaraBergante,LucaTosi,GianfrancoMinotta,MassimilianoBiason,MaurizioVenturaand GianniFacciotto... ...1968 Workshop 3.3: Designing Cropping Systems for Adaption to Climate Change
Convenors:ThomasDöring,FrankEllmer,RalfBlochandJohannBachinger...1977 The situation of current crop rotations in Northern Germany: risks and chances for future farming systems
SusanneSteinandHorstͲHenningSteinmann...1978 Yield 2050: Risks and opportunities for the German agriculture - A modelling approach MaximilianStrer,NikolaiSvobodaandAntjeHerrmann...1984
Farmer responses to multiple stresses in the face of global change: Assessing five case studies to enhance adaptation
GiuseppeFeola,AmyM.Lerner,MehaJain,MarvinJ.F.MontefrioandKimberlyA.Nicholas...1993
Agriculture, forest, climate: the road to new adaptation strategies in France (the AFClim foresight) NoémieSchaller,ClémentVillien,PierreClaquinandJulienVert...2001
Support building resilient smallholder farms to climate change: I. Livelihood profile and nutrient management in the Loba province, Burkina Faso AlexandreBoundiaThiombianoandQuangBaoLe...2010
Evaluation of maize varieties in a changing climate: on-farm vs. experimental stations JulianKlepatzki,ThomasF.Döring,JannaMacholdt,FrankEllmer...2018
3 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WORKSHOPS ...2027
4 FIELD TRIPS ...2031
4.1Large-scale crop production on sandy soils ...2031
4.2Extensive grasslands on hydromorphic soils...2032
4.3Agroforestry systems ...2033
4.4Paradise lost? Food supply strategies in the metropolitan region of Berlin now and then….… ...2034
4.5Urban agriculture in Berlin: From traditional peri-urban farming to self-harvesting and community-gardens ...2036
5 EVALUATION...,,...2037
6 PHOTO GALLERY ...2041
Index of authors ...2047
Workshop Theme 2:
Feeding the future with sustainable agro-food systems:
Alternative production, distribution and consumption views and approaches
Workshop 2.1: Healthy growth in value-based chains: From niche to volume with integrity and trust
Convenors: Hilde Bjørkhaug, Handan Giray, Gunn-Turid Kvam and Egon Noe
Taking organic food chains as a starting point, value-based chains tend to converge either to- wards higher value niche products or towards conventionalisation. Smaller and more local organ- ic food businesses and farmers tend to find it easier to communicate multiple values and build on trust than larger businesses and wholesale driven organic food chains. Smaller businesses and local marketing initiatives, however, have inherent problems in moving from niche to volume successfully. The challenge for all involved in a food chain is to maintain and advance quality, integrity and trust all along the way from the producer to the consumer, to grow in a healthy way.
The Healtygrowth workshop aims to discuss approaches of successfully managing increasing quantities of organic food produce - successful in terms of maintaining product quality, trust, in- tegrity and higher value while at the same time increasing turnover. The workshop will provide knowledge on how integrity and trust can be maintained in the growth from niche to volume, and develop general as well as locally adapted recommendations for the development of organic mar- kets. The target groups are not only other mid-scale value chains, but also smaller organic pro- ducers, consumers, and potential new organic actors in new forms of partnership and cooperation, as well as large-scale market chains. The Healtygrowth workshop is developed by a CORE OR- GANIC II project. While the workshop encourage Healthygrowth project participation in this workshop it also strongly encourage IFSA scholars to present state of the art knowledge and par- ticipate in debates on value based growth in sustainable food chains in Europe and beyond. A broader aim of the workshop is to feed knowledge into IFSA 2013 workshop theme 4 “Feeding the future with sustainable agro-food systems: Alternative production, distribution and consump- tion views and approaches” on building knowledge on sustainable agro-food system. Lessons learned form development of successful value based growth in organic food systems might pro- vide valuable input to debates on sustainable production, distribution and consumption.
Dynamics and stability in growth of values based food chains:
Understanding organizational evolution in organic food systems
Klaus Brønd Laursen and Egon Noe
Inst. for Agroøkologi, Aarhus Universitet, Blichers Allé 20, Postboks 50, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
Abstract: When analyzing the capacity for growth in midscale values based food chains one question seems unavoidable: How can we understand why some organizations parishes while others survive when they are operating within the same structural conditions? This question is central, not only in order to understand specific empirical problems but also because the question has theoretical implications. This is because the answer is not, as we will argue, to be found where one intuitive would search for it; in the social dimension, as bad management, but must be sought in the temporal dimension and in how these organizations observes the difference between the past and the future in the present. In order to understand how such different developments occur we develop an analytical approach based on systems theory as it has been put forward by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann. We then proceed to analyse two cases that despite their development under the same structural conditions experienced direct opposite evolution paths. By analyzing these cases we demonstrate the theoretical insights derived from systems theory use- fulness in analyzing midscale value based food chains.
Keywords: organic food chain, Niklas Luhmann, temporality, evolution, organizational studies
Introduction
Much contemporary debate is focusing on how sustainable development can be obtained and if it is possible to combine growth and quality. One argument is that a larger degree of organic pro- duction plays a significant role in this development. If this change is to be market driven then the growth of value based food chains are of special interest. Is it possible combine growth and quali- ty?
When aiming at understanding such a development then the organizational perspective seems unavoidable. This is because growth in food value chains is intimately linked to organizational evolution. If the involved organizations do not grow, either by expanding or allow for growth by coupling more organizations to the chain, the chain does not grow. In this respect the growth of a chain is a process that takes place over time as a process of selections and can thereby be de- scribed as an evolutionary process. Such a process is not a process of either change or planning.
An evolutionary process follows, but is not dependent on the structures the organization is em- bedded in. At the same time an evolution is a two way process. An evolutionary process does not by definition mean that the involved parties thrive and prospect. Some evolutionary processes have the opposite and sometimes unwanted outcome where the result is that the involved organi- zations close down instead of growing. This possess the question why organizations developing under the same structural conditions follow different paths: Why do some organizations manage to turn into successful stories when other organization operating under the same structural condi- tions experience failure? The answer to this question can be sought in different areas. One possi- ble path is in the social dimension, as management issue or, as discussed in this paper, in the temporal dimension. By focusing on the temporal aspect the analysis can reveal the structural aspect of evolution and thereby generate insight into the temporal mechanisms that links and syn-
chronizes different social events. The aim of this paper is to analyze how different organizations handle the challenges of growth from a temporal perspective. Do two organizations that are oper- ation under the same structural conditions actualizes this potential in similar manners and to what degree are their operations affected by their individual perception of time.
The paper constructs its analytical frame on the basis of Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory, which has a strong focus on the temporal aspect of social phenomena. The first part of the paper intro- duces this theory and develops an analytical approach applied in the paper. Then an oversight of two cases is provided. The paper then proceeds to compare and analyze these two cases on the bases of systems theory before finally concluding.
Systems evolution
Luhmann defines evolution as an increase in the number of preconditions on which an order can depend (Luhmann, 1997/2012). But if the number of preconditions increases without any means of organising the increase, there would be a high probability that the communication would break down in an overwhelming complexity. Therefore evolution requires some form of structure in order to evolve. Luhmann describes five features that allows for evolution to take place. In order to avoid that the communication breaks down in an overload of complexity any changes must begin with distinctive structures. At the same time, evolution must allow for mistakes and devia- tions to take place since transition cannot depend on insight into the superiority of new solutions.
In order to do so, the changes must comprehend the already present possibilities because the sys- tem cannot create something new out of nothing. Even though evolution takes place within a sys- tem, it can lead to bifurcation that can establish the starting point for a differential history. In this way new subsystems can emerge from already established systems. Finally, following these four features the fifth point is that evolution presupposes some kind of deviation that can allow for the coding of evolution to apply to itself and thereby increase the bifurcation. The consequence fol- lowing this argument is, according to Luhmann, that evolution is neither a structural determinant nor purely chance. Evolution selects systems that are structured so that they can change them- selves in a way conditioned by changes (Luhmann, 1990). This understanding of evolution corre- sponds to the definition of social systems as being autopoietic systems. Autopoietic systems are defined by the fact that in the reproduction of its structures the autopoietic system can only rely on the system itself (Luhmann, 1984/2000). An autopoietic system cannot make use of structures or processes that take place in other systems.
To allow the system to reproduce itself and to evolve, an autopoietic system cannot be a static system. The development or evolution of the system requires two features. On the one hand, the system needs a certain degree of dynamic in order to create the elements necessary in the repro- duction of the system. On the other hand, the system needs a degree of stability in order to allow for the reproduction to take place. Without some degree of stability, a system’s evolution would generate more complexity than the system would be able to handle, and the system would break down in an overload of internal complexity. The state of such a system can therefore be described as one of dynamic stability (Luhmann, 1984/2000). In requiring both dynamics and stability, such systems are to be understood as temporalized systems. This is because such a system can only generate stability through the replacement of transient elements by new elements (Luhmann, 1997/2012). The process of replacement is a process that requires time in order to take place.
Some structures are dispatched while new ones are developed and put in place. Both processes require time, which then generates a unique understanding of the concept of time relating to each individual system. Therefore, each system operates with its own time-binding. A time-binding binds the system by giving events structural value, by creating links between different operations
that constrain each other. In this respect a time-binding does not bind time itself (Luhmann, 1991/1993, Esposito, 2011).
From this basic insight into the theory of autopoietic systems, such systems can now be described as a form. Following Spencer-Brown (Spencer-Brown, 1969), Luhmann defines a form as a dis- tinction which, following this definition is a condition for observation. A form is established by fixing a boundary and thereby separating the two sides. Crossing from one side of the boundary to the other requires an operation and hence, like all other operations, this requires time. Since crossing the boundary is possible, a form must be described as a unit containing the two sides it separates (Luhmann, 1999). The form of an autopoietic system can therefore be described as the unity of the difference between dynamics and stability with a preference for dynamics. In order to observe an autopoietic system as a system of dynamic stability, the observation would have to maintain a preference for dynamics with stability as the unmarked side of the distinction. Only by observing an autopoietic system from this point of observation is it possible to maintain a focus on the evolutionary processes of the system. This is possible because this distinction allows for dynamics to use stability as the reflective side of the distinction, and by crossing the boundary between the two sides of the form dynamics can be kept at a level where it does not overtake the system in an overwhelming self-reference. It follows then that a system can only maintain itself as long as both sides are present in a unit being the system itself.
That the state of an autopoietic system is one of dynamic stability does not mean that the system oscillate between development and stand still. The stability of a system is not an expression of nothingness. Stability is not static but temporal. The stability of a system comes about as a func- tional equivalent of the systems time-bind, the temporal process of the system performing opera- tions. In performing its operations an organization-system make use of the codes of several func- tions systems. An organization system couples to different functional systems and by doing so it can make use of the different functional systems time bindings in performing its own operations.
By coupling to the different functional systems an organization can use economic codes, legal codes, political codes, organizational codes and so on. Each of these codes has its own time bind and by using the different codes in a polyphonic communication the organizational system can at the same time be both stabile and dynamic. The achievement of a temporal stability allows the system to operate dynamic at the same time.
Legal contracts are one example of such temporal stability that allows for dynamic operations to be carried out. A legal contract allows for a communication to be both legal and economic at the same time. The point is that the contract functions as a structural coupling between the legal and the economic system (Luhmann, 1991, Luhmann, 1993/2004). When engaging in legal contracts an organization can stabilize some expectations to the future in one area that then allows for dy- namic operations to take place in another area because the system now can put the stabilizing part of the contract a side as long as the contract runs. This does not mean that the system can ignore the content of the contract, on the contrary. The stabilizing effect of engaging in a contract comes about because the involved parties not continuously has to synchronize there mutual expectations but can put them aside in the contract and focus on fulfilling the contract. The expectations about future payments are stabilized legally.
But the stability is not static but temporal, so even though an organization experiences a large stability, by making a stronger coupling to some functional systems than others, this does not necessarily give that particular system an evolutionary advance. This understanding of autopoietic systems as systems that at the same time both operates as stabile and dynamic sys- tems provides us with a guiding distinction as to observe how some organizations strive under a given structural condition while other organizations operating under the same conditions strug- gles to the degree of closure.
The case of Thise and Økomælk93
When understanding organizational evolution as a temporal process that requires both dynamics and stability a better understanding can be achieved of how different organization evolve differ- ently under the same structural conditions. This insight proves valuable in analysing the devel- opment of the two dairy factories ‘Thise’ and ‘Økomælk A/S’.
Thise
The dairy factory ‘Thise’ was established as a cooperative in 1988 by eight farmers from North West Jutland. The first years of its life Thise was a part of the marketing cooperative NaturMælk.
This cooperative ceased to exist in 1992 leaving Thise with a serious challenge in finding a new channel of distribution. After experiencing a lengthy struggle Thise engages in long term cooper- ation with Danish high end supermarket ‘Irma’ in 1994. This new cooperation has proved central to the long term survival of Thise for several reasons. Irma is a part of the supermarket coopera- tion ‘COOP’ containing the supermarket chains ‘Kvickly’, ‘Brugsen’, ‘SuperBrugsen’ and
‘Fakta’. By engaging into the cooperation with Irma, Thise also gained accesses to the other su- permarkets in the cooperation COOP. But this only came about after Thise had established a suc- cessful cooperation with Irma.
The cooperation between Thise and Irma differs from many other food chains. The relationship between Thise and Irma is not thought of as a simple supply demand relationship by the involved parties. Both Thise and Irma describe their relationship as a relationship that goes beyond the traditional supply/demand relationship. The relationship is portrayed as a form of partnership where both parties share mutual goals. A partnership differs from contract in how the future co- operation is understood. A partnership can be described as a second order contract, as a promise about future promises (Andersen, 2006). A partnership is defined by its mutual duties contrary to a contract that is defined through its mutual rights. The duties Thise accepted in this partnership were the duties to develop new products that Irma in turn obliged itself to promote. A partnership can in this respect ‘push’ the limits of the cooperation further into the future than a contract. In order to make such a push engaging in a partnership demands a higher degree of trust and reci- procity than a contract. Both parties must share and acknowledge the mutual vision in order to make that partnership function. In a number of public statements the manager of Thise has de- scribed the partnership with Irma as a ‘marriage’ and Irma has described the relationship as a close friendship. The different wording does not seem to mark a fundamental difference in the perception of the relationship, but is more likely to be seen as a result of different corporate communication traditions.
The potential that allowed for a partnership between Thise and Irma is to be found in the expecta- tions to the future the two parties where trying to actualize separately. The aim of Irma was to deliver products of a high quality with a high degree of customer service. Irma defines itself as a high end supermarket that provides a serious opposite to the discount ideology. The ambition is to provide quality products that are healthy, social and environmental responsible and innovative.
Another differentiation strategy that has been applied since the 1970ies is to have different artist designing the packaging of the own brands and shopping bags. These strategies help defining Irma as an innovative and visionary supermarket. Irma’s self-understanding seems very well suit- ed to fit the self-understanding of Thise.
93 The following analysis is a tentative analysis based upon a previous case study and public available information such as newspaper and professional journal articles, press releases and webpages. In the coming year the analysis are going to be further developed with interviews and a profound case study.
