LorrAgri: methodology and experience of a territorial transition lab

Many scholars have underlined the potential of spatialized (or territorialized) approaches to analyse and guide the transition of the agrifood system. For example, scale reductions often associated with territorialisation offers the opportunity to modify power relations between actors and permits to improve their ability to act – or empower. While territorialized approaches to transition management are promising, to date only few studies have considered these aspects in unison. This study presents the methodology used to design and guide a transition management experience. We describe the tools used, issues raised, and potential benefits of the experience for transition, as well as challenges and limitations. Furthermore, we investigate how tools from transition theories were able to support the experience (multi-level perspective, transition management and strategic niche management). LorrAgri is a “territorial transition lab” organised from early 2016 until present day, and aims to develop the local agrifood system (in particular vegetables) in the rural area of Belgian Lorraine in the South of Belgium. This area has relatively well-developed non-conventional agriculture compared to the rest of Belgium, and recently developed market gardening. The present work is based on extensive data selection, including semi-structured interviews and participant observations. Strategic analysis sociology was used to identify possible strategies and challenges between actors of the agrifood system in the selected territory. From these diagnostics of the territory and its actors, the LorrAgri group was created in January 2016, initially with market gardeners. Over time, organisations joined also (both from the regime and niches) which work on local agrifood development, culminating today in the active support and involvement of local politics. Analyses were conducted at several of these stages, and fed by inputs from transition theories. Our study shows that the territorialized approach can enable cooperation between actors which oppose each other, in terms of norms and values. Therefore, LorrAgri is an interesting case study to analyse modes of cooperation between actors e.g. from the regime and the niches, and how norms and values from different levels can influence each other (transition in-the-making). This study also details how participants found a common objective for developing the local agrifood system, namely to supply local products to collective catering, e.g. school canteens and restaurants.