Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Faculty of Life Sciences Community Pick-Up Point Schemes for transitions in food: how a novel Alternative Food Network model offers socially innovative solutions to the challenges of growth Master’s thesis in the study programme Integrated Natural Resource Management, M.Sc. Submitted by Keighley McFarland Matriculation Number 525992 | [email protected] Primary Advisor: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Wolfgang Bokelmann Department of Agricultural Economics Albrecht-Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin Secondary Advisor: Julia Wittmayer Senior Researcher and Advisor Dutch Research Institute for Transitions Erasmus University Rotterdam Berlin, 7 April 2015 ABSTRACT/SUMMARY This study investigates whether the Community Pick-up Point Scheme (CPPS) business model allows for the growth of a sustainable alternative to industrial, globalised value chains without sacrificing the goals the initiative originally set out to achieve. Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) offer concrete solutions to persistent problems of industrialized food systems. Yet when AFNs grow, increased size or scale can cause them to lose the ability to maintain the type of impact or ideals they originally set out to achieve. Community Pick-up Point Schemes (CPPSs) represent a novel type of AFN, combining internet ordering platforms and community-based pick-up points to bring local products from small-scale producers directly to mostly urban consumers. The CPPS model is a social innovation that combines top-down structure and support with bottom-up entrepreneurship and engagement from the community to grow rapidly while maintaining transparency and direct ties between consumers and producers. The study begins with an investigation of existing work in transition theory on growth and scaling, then explores evidence from the literature about the impact of AFNs on societal transformations. To address gaps in understanding about growth of social innovations and transitions in food, a case study was carried out examining two CPPS initiatives – Rechtstreex in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and the Food Assembly in Berlin, Germany. Data was gathered through interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. A conceptual heuristic linking social innovation and societal transformation provided the framework to analyse initiatives’ ability to grow while maintaining their goals. Analysis found that the business model does indeed make positive steps in this direction. However, since they are small consumer-oriented, for-profit businesses, CPPS initiatives are still subject to limitations in this regard. Though not a panacea for the myriad problems of modern food systems, CPPSs represent another part of the solution. The study concludes by devising recommendations for practice, policy, and research. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to thank the following people for their assistance and inspiration during the research process: The team at DRIFT, especially Flor Avelino • Arthur Nijhuis • Sanne Zwart • Veronica Veneziano • Stefanie Albrecht • Simon Steinberg • and all interview participants The internship upon which this thesis builds was made possible through grants and financial support from the following organisations and individuals: WFSC Ambassadors Programme (World Food Systems Center at ETH Zürich and Mercator Foundation Switzerland) • Konrad von Moltke Foundation • ERASMUS SMP+ • Förderverein für Agrar- und Gartenbauwissenschaften an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin • James McFarland • Katherine McFarland • Judy Williams Cover picture © The Food Assembly 2015 i | K. McFarland Table of contents Abstract/Summary ................................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................... i Table of contents ................................................................................................................................................... ii 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................ 2 1.1.1 Selection of case studies ........................................................................................................ 2 1.1.2 Empirical data collection ....................................................................................................... 4 1.1.3 Data analysis ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.4 Research principles ................................................................................................................. 8 2 Literature review ...................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Key concepts: Transitions, social innovation, and Alternative Food Networks .... 10 2.1.1 Sustainable social innovation ........................................................................................... 12 2.1.2 Transformative social innovation: closing the gap between transition theory and social innovation .............................................................................................................................. 13 2.1.3 Transitions for a sustainable Food future ................................................................... 13 2.2 How does growth occur? Pathways, processes, and scales ........................................... 16 2.2.1 Pathways: trajectories of change .................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Processes: types of growth actions ................................................................................ 19 2.2.3 Scales: quantitative measurements of growth .......................................................... 21 2.2.4 Criticisms of concepts of growth in the MLP.............................................................. 21 2.2.5 The TRANSIT heuristic: transition theory for social innovation ....................... 22 2.3 Alternative Food Networks: Pioneering sustainable food niches ............................... 24 2.3.1 Positive impact and potential of AFNs .......................................................................... 25 2.3.2 Problems and limitations of AFNs .................................................................................. 28 3 Empirical findings .................................................................................................................................... 33 3.1 Rechtstreex ........................................................................................................................................ 34 3.1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 34 3.1.2 Rechtreex’s goals ................................................................................................................... 37 Community Pick-Up Point Schemes for transitions in food | ii 3.1.3 Resourcing ................................................................................................................................ 38 3.1.4 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................ 41 3.1.5 Learning .................................................................................................................................... 42 3.1.6 Governance .............................................................................................................................. 46 3.2 Food Assembly ................................................................................................................................. 48 3.2.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 48 3.2.2 Food Assembly’s goals ......................................................................................................... 51 3.2.3 Resourcing ................................................................................................................................ 53 3.2.4 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................ 58 3.2.5 Learning .................................................................................................................................... 61 3.2.6 Governance .............................................................................................................................. 66 4 Discussion: How do the Dimensions of Empowerment contribute to maintaining or sacrificing goals in growth? ............................................................................................................................ 70 4.1 Goals ..................................................................................................................................................... 70 4.2 Resourcing ........................................................................................................................................