Fostering action perspectives to support crop diversification: Lessons from 25 change-oriented case studies across Europe

CONTEXT There is growing evidence that diversified cropping systems can contribute to the fundamental reorientation of food production. However, actors involved in crop diversification (CD) initiatives often lack concrete action perspectives, i.e., ideas and expectations on what they can do to achieve their goals. Indeed, various authors have pointed out the lack of operational guidance by high-level theories on innovation governance for actors in innovation niches that have to cope with complexity and unpredictability. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to fill this gap by studying and cross-analysing the enactment of 25 Case Studies (CSs) consisting of multi-actor CD initiatives spread across 10 European countries. METHODS We developed a heuristic framework that aimed to unpack the key components in the CSs' ways of working towards CD (motivations, participants, intervention levels, activities and learnings). Data collection was based on reflexive self-assessment documents produced by the CSs as part of the actor-oriented co-innovation approach. We cross-analysed the data to highlight patterns among the CSs in their ways of working towards CD using both qualitative and quantitative (Multiple Factor Analysis) approaches, in order to provide a diversity of insights to support action perspectives. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Seven groups of CSs were defined and qualified through the qualitative approach. Group 1 worked on fostering co-learning between farmers and developing participatory approaches. Group 2 specifically worked on enhancing cooperation between farmers. Group 3 promoted strip cropping through the development of a community of practice. Group 4 was concerned with gradually removing lock-ins to support the introduction of diversifying crops. Group 5 worked at aligning actors to create value chains to enhance grain legume production. Group 6 was about fostering locally integrated food systems for legumes and vegetables. And, Group 7 gathered CSs searching for ways out of wicked situations. The results from the MFA partially confirmed these similarities between the CSs but also revealed major differences between some CSs that were identified as similar with the qualitative approach. SIGNIFICANCE In this paper, we propose a framework to describe how actors within innovation niches organized themselves, worked and learned together to stimulate a transition towards more sustainability in food systems. We assume that this framework, is usable by other project leaders of innovation niches to monitor and analyse their change processes towards sustainability jointly with practitioners. Grouping the CSs is a way to scale out these learnings and contribute to the production of action perspectives and mobilizing impact that are useful for people both inside and outside our project.