Dancing with Change

Stories and Structure of the Food System with Christophe Bene

April 26, 2022 Brydon Davidson Season 1 Episode 10
Stories and Structure of the Food System with Christophe Bene
Dancing with Change
More Info
Dancing with Change
Stories and Structure of the Food System with Christophe Bene
Apr 26, 2022 Season 1 Episode 10
Brydon Davidson


Many people are now suggesting that the food system is broken, but what do they mean by broken?  Is the problem the quantity of food? The quality? The inequality within the system, or its impact on the climate and environmental crisis? Despite these critiques coming on multiple fronts, the food system appears to be continuing down the same path it has been on.

In this interview with Christophe Bene, we discuss the food system, the four dominant narratives about why the food system isn't working and the different concerns and values they reflect. We also talk about the key actors that can keep the system on its current trajectory or push it to change.

Christophe is a senior researcher at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and is senior policy adviser for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). You can find more of Christophe's work here
The papers that informed most of our discussion today are this one on the narratives and this one on the barriers to the transformation of the food system.

If you enjoyed the narrative approach to complex systems, check out Episode 8- The six globalisation  with Anthea Roberts

Awesome graphic exploring Organic vs Regenerative vs Agroecological  practices and their underlying values that I mentioned in the show

Also, check out the website and join the discord!

Show Notes


Many people are now suggesting that the food system is broken, but what do they mean by broken?  Is the problem the quantity of food? The quality? The inequality within the system, or its impact on the climate and environmental crisis? Despite these critiques coming on multiple fronts, the food system appears to be continuing down the same path it has been on.

In this interview with Christophe Bene, we discuss the food system, the four dominant narratives about why the food system isn't working and the different concerns and values they reflect. We also talk about the key actors that can keep the system on its current trajectory or push it to change.

Christophe is a senior researcher at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and is senior policy adviser for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). You can find more of Christophe's work here
The papers that informed most of our discussion today are this one on the narratives and this one on the barriers to the transformation of the food system.

If you enjoyed the narrative approach to complex systems, check out Episode 8- The six globalisation  with Anthea Roberts

Awesome graphic exploring Organic vs Regenerative vs Agroecological  practices and their underlying values that I mentioned in the show

Also, check out the website and join the discord!