Abstract :
[en] Given that food systems involve complex and entangled networks of very diverse actors, resources, activities and flows that overlap at multiple level, it is increasingly recognized that food system transition calls for a collective action type of governance (van Bers et al., 2019). In that perspective, the concept of polycentric governance has received growing interest as it has shown efficiency in governing complex social ecological systems – such as water management (Ostrom et al., 1961) or fisheries (Low et al., 2003).However, if authors argue that polycentricity would be suitable to address the complexity of food systems and, thus, to induce a transition in that sector (Bauwens & Mertens, 2018; van Bers et al., 2019), there are few analyses that specifically question how efficiently operationalize a polycentric governance of food system. As a result, there is a need to better understand how to obtain a “functional polycentric system”.this empirical paper draws on the possibility to analyse what seems to be a functional polycentric system. Indeed, in Wallonia (Belgium), an organisation called the “5C collective” has drawn our attention as it appears to present all the typical ingredients as well as all the benefits of a polycentric system. It also features a specific inter-organisational arrangement. As discussed in a previous paper (Lanzi & Maréchal, 2022), 5C can be considered as a meta-organization as it brings together Walloon cooperatives that valorize local and/or organic food products and citizen participation with the main objective to reinforce local short food supply chains. By analyzing a case of what seems to be a relatively functional polycentric organization, this paper aim at better understanding the organizational features that can enable effective polycentric systems. Some studies have indeed pointed out the interest of meta-organisations as bottom-up multi-stakeholder structures that can help the development of sustainable innovation (such as SFSC) which in turn help fostering sustainable transition (Berkowitz, 2018; Berkowitz et al., 2020; Berkowitz & Bor, 2018; Corazza et al., 2021).
