Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies

This is a condensed version of a paper on conventional wisdom (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems. It was presented as a plenary talk at the Rethinking Food Markets Symposium on December 11, 2024. This note is structured as a sequence of research step...

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Main Author: Reardon, Thomas
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168414
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author Reardon, Thomas
author_browse Reardon, Thomas
author_facet Reardon, Thomas
author_sort Reardon, Thomas
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This is a condensed version of a paper on conventional wisdom (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems. It was presented as a plenary talk at the Rethinking Food Markets Symposium on December 11, 2024. This note is structured as a sequence of research steps to better align policy with food system realities, as follows: Identify the conventional wisdom (CW), premises, assumptions as perceived by governments and donors about factors constraining proper food market system functioning and how to address these. Identify how CW influences government/donor actions (policies, investments, programs, external or exogenous innovations). Review evidence of actual food system functioning: (c.1) patterns in structure, conduct, performance; (c.2) transformations in those three; (c.3) endogenous innovations by system actors to address constraints. Assess whether/how CW matches (or contradicts) reality. If there is gap or contradiction, identify two things: (e.1) What kind of problem/error generated by the gap between CW and reality: (i) led to lack of needed action (neglect); (ii) led to wrong action (mistake); (iii) led to action redundant with “endogenous innovations” that real world actors already doing (not needed). (e.2) What actions would be better and would be better aligned with discovered food system realities and endogenous innovations - and improve the situation. The rest of the paper lays out findings from the case studies as conducted through the Rethinking Food Markets initiative, as well as other recent empirical research that illustrates points relevant to the above five steps.
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spelling CGSpace1684142025-01-07T16:47:22Z Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies Reardon, Thomas food systems policies governance markets value chains This is a condensed version of a paper on conventional wisdom (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems. It was presented as a plenary talk at the Rethinking Food Markets Symposium on December 11, 2024. This note is structured as a sequence of research steps to better align policy with food system realities, as follows: Identify the conventional wisdom (CW), premises, assumptions as perceived by governments and donors about factors constraining proper food market system functioning and how to address these. Identify how CW influences government/donor actions (policies, investments, programs, external or exogenous innovations). Review evidence of actual food system functioning: (c.1) patterns in structure, conduct, performance; (c.2) transformations in those three; (c.3) endogenous innovations by system actors to address constraints. Assess whether/how CW matches (or contradicts) reality. If there is gap or contradiction, identify two things: (e.1) What kind of problem/error generated by the gap between CW and reality: (i) led to lack of needed action (neglect); (ii) led to wrong action (mistake); (iii) led to action redundant with “endogenous innovations” that real world actors already doing (not needed). (e.2) What actions would be better and would be better aligned with discovered food system realities and endogenous innovations - and improve the situation. The rest of the paper lays out findings from the case studies as conducted through the Rethinking Food Markets initiative, as well as other recent empirical research that illustrates points relevant to the above five steps. 2024-12-30 2024-12-31T14:23:26Z 2024-12-31T14:23:26Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168414 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Reardon, Thomas. 2024. Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies. Rethinking Food Markets Initiative Note. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168414
spellingShingle food systems
policies
governance
markets
value chains
Reardon, Thomas
Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies
title Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies
title_full Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies
title_fullStr Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies
title_full_unstemmed Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies
title_short Conventional wisdoms (myths) versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems: Implications for re-alignment of policies
title_sort conventional wisdoms myths versus realities about transforming and endogenously innovating food systems implications for re alignment of policies
topic food systems
policies
governance
markets
value chains
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168414
work_keys_str_mv AT reardonthomas conventionalwisdomsmythsversusrealitiesabouttransformingandendogenouslyinnovatingfoodsystemsimplicationsforrealignmentofpolicies