Innovation Policies for Sustainable, Resilient, Food-secure Systems

This chapter, which concludes the volume, develops what was argued in Chapter 7 in light of the need to identify policies capable to support sustainable, resilient and food-secure systems where the role of farmers, and small farmers in particular, as active drivers of change is fully recognized. The chapter presents a discussion on innovation policy guidelines consistent with the illustrated frameworks, and on the best governance arrangements, to support system change vis-à-vis pressures that are both internal and external to the sociotechnical networks (Smith, Stirling, & Berkhout, 2005). Attention is given to the definition of adequate measures to support transition towards a sustainable, resilient and food-secure system with a valorization of small farms' role. Finally, indications on how to assess the effectiveness and the efficiency of the public policies and supports are provided, highlighting the principles to be followed for the design of an effective and consistent monitoring and evaluation system. The discussion hinges on three questions, to be answered in the aim to find the most governance arrangements best suited to promote innovation processes: Who to involve in decision-making? What are the appropriate knowledge infrastructures? How to assess the effectiveness and the efficiency of the public policies and supports?