Co-producing knowledge about systemic innovation processes

This part of the BeanMeals project aims to understand how to design and implement fork-to-farm systemic innovation – "the co-ordination of innovations across multiple business organisations and other stakeholders to deliver a new set of interlinked products, services and ways to utilise them." (University of Hull, 2022).

The project team will reflect on collaborative engagement processes with a diverse range of stakeholders and determine how to best facilitate innovation to increase the supply and demand for UK beans. The aim is to identify effective methods and processes for adoption in future food system transformation on a larger scale.

The systemic innovation stream of work is facilitated by Professor Gerald Midgley and Dr Raghav Rajagopolan from University of Hull working alongside academics from different research disciplines, and a diverse range of stakeholders including producers, processors, distributors, consumers, non-governmental organisations, local councils, and policymakers.

The systems approach recognises the importance of dialogue between those approaching food system innovation from a diverse range of perspectives and expertise.

The research team highlighted the importance of continuous reflection for this research activity (e.g., reflecting on who needs to be involved and who isn't currently involved but needs to be by revisiting stakeholder analyses), as well as key skills and personal qualities necessary for both co-production and application of systems thinking to innovation. These include facilitation skills, and self-awareness of one’s own interpretations and assumptions when engaging with stakeholders.