Controversies surrounding sustainable transitions in agrifood systems in light of systemic approaches – from narratives to practices

Abstract

Evidence of the negative socio-environmental and economic impacts caused by food systems has grown in recent decades. Various epistemic communities are embracing several promising sociotechnical transformations and alternative narratives emphasizing the systemic and complex nature of dynamics associated with food issues. These communities attest to the importance of building more integrated institutional frameworks and policies to achieve sustainable transition effectively. This study discusses why, despite this context, the paths to steer emerging transformations toward a more sustainable and inclusive future remain subject to controversy. Despite the rise of systemic narratives, actors and practices persist in particularized approaches that ignore the complex interdependencies of sustainable transitions in food systems.