There is a close link between innovation and sustainability. Innovation has been increasingly considered an important tool and policy element for achieving sustainability. At the same time, our food systems are currently under pressure, with an increasing global population, food demand and competition for resources. Thus, working towards more sustainable food systems requires tackling all phases of food chains. Such a transition requires innovative solutions that are accessible, affordable, available and inclusive. The focus of innovations should not be on getting higher yields or on increased productivity, but rather on offering solutions (technological, social, organizational) to the broader societal challenges, such as sustainable development.
There has been recently an increasing attention both from academics and policymakers on the impacts of technological, social and organizational innovations of food systems and how they can change the interaction mechanisms within them. This Research Topic aims to look at the implications of innovations in food systems and at how innovations are able to support and rethink food systems’ activities in the transition towards sustainability. In particular, concerning innovative practices, technologies, ideas and activities concerning the different phases of the food systems and of food value chains.
Through this Research Topic, we wish to collect interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical contributions that look at specific innovative dynamics at certain stages of the value chain, holistic process-based contributions and their impact towards more sustainable food value chains, as well as contributions dealing with the implications of such innovations on policymaking. Specifically, but not exclusively, we welcome works related to the following areas:
- Development of local innovation systems meeting local needs in addressing food system challenges
- Innovative decision-making practices and governance structures
- The role of technological innovations in achieving sustainable food systems
- Focus on I4.0-enabling technologies (as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Big Data among others) in supporting the development of sustainable food systems.
- Innovations for changing consumption patterns
- Innovative food production models
There is a close link between innovation and sustainability. Innovation has been increasingly considered an important tool and policy element for achieving sustainability. At the same time, our food systems are currently under pressure, with an increasing global population, food demand and competition for resources. Thus, working towards more sustainable food systems requires tackling all phases of food chains. Such a transition requires innovative solutions that are accessible, affordable, available and inclusive. The focus of innovations should not be on getting higher yields or on increased productivity, but rather on offering solutions (technological, social, organizational) to the broader societal challenges, such as sustainable development.
There has been recently an increasing attention both from academics and policymakers on the impacts of technological, social and organizational innovations of food systems and how they can change the interaction mechanisms within them. This Research Topic aims to look at the implications of innovations in food systems and at how innovations are able to support and rethink food systems’ activities in the transition towards sustainability. In particular, concerning innovative practices, technologies, ideas and activities concerning the different phases of the food systems and of food value chains.
Through this Research Topic, we wish to collect interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical contributions that look at specific innovative dynamics at certain stages of the value chain, holistic process-based contributions and their impact towards more sustainable food value chains, as well as contributions dealing with the implications of such innovations on policymaking. Specifically, but not exclusively, we welcome works related to the following areas:
- Development of local innovation systems meeting local needs in addressing food system challenges
- Innovative decision-making practices and governance structures
- The role of technological innovations in achieving sustainable food systems
- Focus on I4.0-enabling technologies (as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Big Data among others) in supporting the development of sustainable food systems.
- Innovations for changing consumption patterns
- Innovative food production models
