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How to Address the Sustainability Transition of Farming Systems? A Conceptual Framework to Organize Research

Author

Listed:
  • Guillaume Martin

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Sandrine Allain

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Jacques-Eric Bergez

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Delphine Burger-Leenhardt

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Julie Constantin

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Michel Duru

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Laurent Hazard

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Camille Lacombe

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Danièle Magda

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Marie-Angélina Magne

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, ENSFEA, INRA-INPT-ENSAT, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Julie Ryschawy

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Vincent Thénard

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Hélène Tribouillois

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

  • Magali Willaume

    (AGIR, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France)

Abstract

Stakeholders from academic, political, and social spheres encourage the development of more sustainable forms of agriculture. Given its scale and scope, the sustainability transition is a challenge to the entire agricultural sector. The main question is, how to support the transition process? In this article, we explore how agricultural science can address the sustainability transition of farming systems to understand and support transition processes. We discuss the potential for articulating three research approaches: comprehensive analysis, co-design, and simulation modeling. Comprehensive analysis of the sustainability transition provides perspectives on the interplay between resources, resource management, and related performances of farming systems on the one hand and technical, economic, and sociocultural dimensions of change on the other. Co-design of the sustainability transition stimulates local-scale transition experiments in the real world and identification of alternatives for change. Simulation modeling explores future-oriented scenarios of management at multiple levels and assesses their impacts. We illustrate the articulation of research approaches with two examples of research applied to agricultural water management and autonomy in crop-livestock systems. The resulting conceptual framework is the first one developed to organize research to understand and support the sustainability transition of farming systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Guillaume Martin & Sandrine Allain & Jacques-Eric Bergez & Delphine Burger-Leenhardt & Julie Constantin & Michel Duru & Laurent Hazard & Camille Lacombe & Danièle Magda & Marie-Angélina Magne & Julie , 2018. "How to Address the Sustainability Transition of Farming Systems? A Conceptual Framework to Organize Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:6:p:2083-:d:153313
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Fátima Matos Silva & Cristina Sousa & Helena Albuquerque, 2022. "Analytical Model for the Development Strategy of a Low-Density Territory: The Montesinho Natural Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, April.
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    5. Alonso-Adame, Alba & Farahbakhsh, Siavash & Van Meensel, Jef & Marchand, Fleur & Van Passel, Steven, 2025. "Factors to scale out innovative organic farming systems: A case study in Flanders region, Belgium," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    6. Chantal Gascuel & Michèle Tixier-Boichard & Benoit Dedieu & Cécile Détang-Dessendre & Pierre Dupraz & Philippe Faverdin & Laurent Hazard & Philippe Hinsinger & Isabelle Litrico-Chiarelli & Françoise M, 2019. "Réflexion prospective interdisciplinaire pour l’agroécologie. Rapport de synthèse," Post-Print hal-02154433, HAL.
    7. Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė & Rita Lankauskienė & Vitalija Simonaitytė, 2022. "Pathway to Green Transformation in Lithuania: Biogas Production from Manure and Waste," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Bertrand Méda & Léonie Dusart & Juliette Protino & Philippe Lescoat & Cécile Berri & Pascale Magdelaine & Isabelle Bouvarel, 2021. "OVALI, Sustainability for Poultry ® : A Method Co-Designed by Stakeholders to Assess the Sustainability of Chicken Supply Chains in Their Territories," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    9. Dernat, Sylvain & Grillot, Myriam & Andreotti, Federico & Martel, Gilles, 2025. "A sustainable game changer? Systematic review of serious games used for agriculture and research agenda," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    10. Inga C. Melchior & Jens Newig, 2021. "Governing Transitions towards Sustainable Agriculture—Taking Stock of an Emerging Field of Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-27, January.
    11. de Boon, Auvikki & Sandström, Camilla & Rose, David Christian, 2022. "Perceived legitimacy of agricultural transitions and implications for governance. Lessons learned from England’s post-Brexit agricultural transition," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).

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