Effectiveness of monitoring and learning tools in sustainability trajectories on farm and agri-food chain level

General introduction

Which monitoring and learning tools best chart sustainability at the farm and agri-food chain level? How can we score these monitoring and learning instruments in terms of effectiveness, applicability and the movement towards learning? Primary food producers and the agri-food chain are both asking for efficient and workable monitoring and learning instruments to guide, stimulate and monitor sustainability processes. Many quick scans, full scans and other scans at farm and agri-food chain level already exist. This research looks at the methodologies of trajectories that lead to increased sustainability in the primary food production sector. The goal is to identify and evaluate linkages and differences between these scans and help the industry to choose and use the best method for their purposes.

Research approach

We work with two on-demand study cases at the farm and agri-food chain level. Using action research, we inventory and develop instruments. Data are collected using three methods: via a thorough literature review; qualitatively via interviews; and quantitatively via surveys and implementation of instruments. During the concluding phase, the most attention goes to comparing the scans and the relations between scans at farm and agri-food chain level.

Relevance/Valorisation

Sustainability (the social and ecological challenges caused by amongst other climate change, aging and scarcity of natural resources) now plays an important role in society. In the course of a trajectory towards sustainability it is very hard to choose an effective instrument. Many methodologies (perhaps too many) and models exist in the scientific literature. These instruments all have their own goals and functions. This research provides an effective way to use and choose these monitoring and learning instruments.