Field of bean plants

Overview 

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.

People involved  

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.
 

Key project activities

The project will apply systems thinking concepts and practices to innovation around UK-grown beans, including:
Stakeholder analysis 
To identify stakeholders that may have been excluded from discussions, and to consider the best approaches for building relationships with key stakeholders. 
Appraisal of the processes of systemic innovation
Including a consideration of how both researchers and stakeholders have developed their understanding of the food system and approaches to systemic innovation throughout the BeanMeals project.

Co-production principles

Knowledge 

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

Reflection and reflexivity 

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. 
BeanMeals stakeholders
BeanMeals stakeholders
 

Find out more about this project

Related references

Helfgott, A., & Midgley, G. (2009). Exploring boundaries in food systems research. Global Food Security Programme. https://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Exploring-Boundaries-in-Food-Systems-Research_REPORT.pdf 
Midgley, G. (2016). Co-creation without systems thinking can be dangerous. https://i2insights.org/2016/07/07/co-creation-and-systems-thinking/ 
Midgley, G., & Lindhult, E. (2021). A systems perspective on systemic innovation [https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2819]. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 38(5), 635-670. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2819 
University of Hull (2022). New research: Beanz Meanz … – a healthier diet, a cleaner environment, and an innovative approach to UK food production. Retrieved 25th October 2023 from https://www.hull.ac.uk/work-with-us/more/media-centre/news/2022/new-research-beanz-meanz-a-healthier-diet-a-cleaner-environment-and-an-innovative-approach-to-uk-food-production