Scaling up and out as a pathway for food system transitions

Pitt, Hannah; Jones, Mat

Abstract

© 2016 by the authors. This paper contributes to the understanding of sustainability transitions by analysing processes of scaling up and out as change pathway. It defines scaling up and out as a distinct form of policy transfer focused on programme implementation, with continuity of actors across jurisdictions. We detail how scaling up and out occurs, introducing a new mechanism to policy transfer frameworks. This is explicated through the case study of Food for Life (FFL), a civil society innovation programme promoting sustainable healthy food in public settings. We highlight why FFL was scaled up and out, how this was achieved, by whom, and the results and success factors. The case study demonstrates the importance of interrogating motivations for transferring policies, and how these influence whether successful outcomes are achieved. This requires a revised framework for analysing policy transfer, with greater attention to the links between motives and outcomes, and a less binary understanding of agents' roles. Where scaling is the mode of policy transfer, we suggest that continuous involvement of at least one transfer agent across the process is significant to success. We conclude by highlighting implications for future research into policy transfer and food system transitions.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 4, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Oct 13, 2016
• Publication Date: Oct 13, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 18, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 18, 2016
• Journal: Sustainability (Switzerland)
• Electronic ISSN: 2071-1050
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: 1025
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su8101025
• Keywords: food, sustainability, policy analysis, evaluation, case study, public health, transitions, scaling up, scaling out, policy transfer, public food
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/922444
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su8101025
• Contract Date: Oct 18, 2016