Deliberating justice in food systems transformation pathways: a transdisciplinary approach applied in Finland

Abstract

The need for transformation in food systems is acknowledged broadly. Persisting lock-ins and systemic interactions require research going beyond disciplinary approaches. Transdisciplinary research has the explicit aim to contribute to solving complex sustainability problems. In this article, we present a transdisciplinary framework for incorporating justice considerations as a normative compass into the deliberation of transformation pathways, and apply it to the context of the Finnish food system. The results show how justice can act as a boundary object that brings different disciplines and food system actors together to create a shared language for food systems transformation. At the same time, it makes visible conflicting interests that require ethical reflection by researchers and other societal actors. In future, a well-balanced mix of short- and long-term actions is required to co-produce transformative change while extending the group of engaged actors to address deeper vulnerabilities. This invites transformative research to develop novel procedural and methodological approaches for ethical reflection.