Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector: A Conceptual Synthesis of Contributions to Sustainable Local and Rural Development
Narrative review finds social and solidarity economy drives sustainability transitions in agri-food systems, suggesting transformative potential.
Key Points
This paper aims to explore the role of social and solidarity economy (SSE) initiatives in transforming agri-food systems for sustainable development.
Conducted a narrative review of interdisciplinary peer-reviewed literature and institutional sources.
Synthesized evidence on how SSE mechanisms can advance sustainable local development.
Developed a structured analytical framework to link SSE practices with agri-food chain transformation.
Identified three interconnected mechanisms for transformation: governance reconfiguration, producer-consumer relationship deepening, and equitable value redistribution.
Demonstrated that place-based SSE models play a central role in sustainability transitions.
Outlined nine policy implications for scaling and sustaining SSE innovations through multi-stakeholder collaboration.