From vulnerability to resilience
Backcasting to achieve food resilience in the UK
Professor Aled Jones is Director of the Global Sustainability Institute (GSI) at ARU.
Established in 2011, the GSI has grown rapidly and its research now spans seven themes. One of these themes is Complex Socio-Ecological Systems, which explores our world of complex, interconnected systems. It is home to a major new research project, Backcasting to Achieve Food Resilience in the UK (BAFR-UK).
Here, Aled tells us more about the BAFR-UK project.
Background and motivation
The Backcasting to Achieve Food Resilience in the UK project, led by the GSI, aims to address the vulnerabilities in the UK's food system. The motivation behind this project is to identify and implement interventions that can make the food system more resilient to external shocks and long-term challenges.
Research process
The research process involves a method known as backcasting, which works backwards from potential future scenarios of shock and collapse. By envisioning these different futures, the team can develop policy solutions and interventions that would have helped avoid such outcomes. This approach allows researchers to identify critical points where changes can be made to prevent future crises.
Interventions in the food system will be tested by working closely with key actors across the food system to understand how changes in agriculture practices (including agroecology) through to logistics and diets can lead to better food system resilience.
"The motivation behind this project is to identify and implement interventions that can make the food system more resilient to external shocks and long-term challenges."
Findings
The project has highlighted several key areas where interventions can significantly enhance food resilience. These include improving supply chain logistics, increasing local food production, and developing policies that support sustainable agricultural practices. The findings emphasise the importance of a holistic approach that considers environmental, economic, and social factors.
Collaboration
Collaboration is a cornerstone of this project. The project is a partnership with the University of York, UWE Bristol, Royal Agricultural University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as well as non-academic partners including the Food Ethics Council, WWF, Food, Farming & Countryside Commission, WTW, WRAP, Sustain and Better Food Traders. The advisory board includes policymakers, industry experts, and representatives of local communities including those living in food insecurity. This collaborative effort ensures that the solutions developed are practical, widely accepted, and effectively implemented. The project also benefits from interdisciplinary research, combining insights from social sciences, economics, and environmental studies.
"Our ultimate goal is to create a robust framework that can be adapted and applied globally to ensure food security for all."
Future directions
Future research will focus on refining the backcasting methodology and exploring new technologies and practices that can further enhance food system resilience. The ultimate goal is to create a robust framework that can be adapted and applied globally to ensure food security for all.
