Pooling resources in alternative food networks Sample Clauses

Pooling resources in alternative food networks. Moving from “individualistic individuals” to forms of individualism that are compatible with pooling some resources in common could play an important role in the paradigm shift towards sustainability. This aspect deserves to be investigated in the attempt to draw more sustainable trajectories for food systems. Indeed, pooling resources in common could provide innovative solutions to problems such as access to land for sustainable farming, high costs of facilities and equipment, need for expertise, etc. However, it is necessary to deepen our knowledge on the sharing processes by which actors of local food networks are pooling resources in common. Indeed, different types of resources can be shared, such as space, infrastructure, staff, time, or expertise, for instance. The sharing processes can involve different types of actors and the norms and rules to organise those processes are likely to vary from one case to another. The research on this second output variable of the building of the alternative food networks is organised as follows. A first step is to gain understanding on the processes by which actors of local food networks are pooling resources in common. A second step of the research will focus on the motivation and impact of pooling resources in common. Finally, the third step of the research will investigate if specific governance mechanisms can enhance those sharing processes. In particular we will investigate if the development of complementary currency systems inspired from Local Exchange and Trade Systems (LETS) or Time Banking systems could provide adequate monitoring systems for those sharing processes. The three steps of the research are described in more details hereunder. Research questions related to this component Step 1: Gaining understanding on pooled resources in local food networks The main questions that need to be answered to get a clearer vision on the sharing processes are the following: • Who is sharing (between organisations, within organisations, actors,…)? • What is shared (knowledge, staff, infrastructure, equipment, facilities, land, tools, financial risk, time, …)? • With whom? • How does it take place? What are the rules? • Is there a system of monitoring? The question of the how those sharing processes take place, and more particularly of the norms and rules that apply to them, deserves particular attention. To gain understanding on the sharing processes that are taking place between actors of local food networks, we wi...