Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
2030. This step was designed to build up trust between the research team and participants,
so that the latter could feel that their voices were heard and well integrated into the process
from the outset.
The second step was a focus group discussion with individuals from the same group,
where the main concerns and discourse were expected to be similar. This contributed to a
smoother introduction to the methodology for participants and researchers. The aim was to
produce visions for agriculture and other land-based activities for each region in 2030, and
to identify the transition pathways necessary in order to achieve those visions. As such, the
exercise was based primarily on a normative approach to the future, questioning 'what
should happen', and providing a perspective on scenario building appropriate to strategic
assessments (Ramos, 2010). The exercise was based on systems thinking and conceptual
modelling, using drawing of circles and arrows with text content (Guimarães
et al.
, 2013),
to allow a structured discussion and ensure that all dimensions of the question were
covered. The conceptualization of this step was designed to be inclusive, ensuring that all
participants could express themselves and felt heard (Wiek and Iwaniec, 2013).
The step-by-step approach culminated in a final workshop, including all participants
(all stakeholders from the four groups, the members of the NSPG and the researchers). The
aim was the co-construction of pathways to achieve previously defined visions. After the
workshop, the pathways created were analysed by the research team using standard
qualitative analysis techniques and further supplemented by discussion with the NSPG.
It is important to note that the focus groups and the workshops were supported by
professional facilitators. This made it possible for researchers to fully engage in the
discussions but more importantly, it has ensured that all those involved were secure about
their role and the expectations surrounding their contributions.
The visions and pathways identified
The visions
More than 50 visions were gathered across the seven European regions. Even considering
the large differentiation of the regions, there were many similarities in the way these visions
could be grouped using their central foci. There were also fundamental differences which
can be partly explained by the particularities of the regional contexts (see Table 12.1).
One group of visions (including eight of the visions identified) can be summarized as
the intensification of production, neo-productivism, farming competitiveness and
profitability. Within these visions, environmental constraints were expressed, but the focus
was on farming production and productivism as a key strategy. Another group of visions
(three of the visions identified) related to farming, but were centred on the environmental or
conservation agenda, with the quality of the landscape and of the environment or natural
resources as an expression of the desired outcomes. Finally, a third group of visions
(comprising eight visions) focused on rural communities, a lively countryside, networks
and close connections between the urban and the rural, strongly emphasizing rural values
and lifestyles. Many visions were primarily centred on one of these three dimensions, but
also included elements of others.
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