F oning, Paul; S o en, Rike
A icle
Shaping e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems h ough social
inno a ions: The example o Valposchia o, Swi ze land
I alian Re iew o Ag icul u al Economics (REA)
P o ided in Coope a ion wi h:
Fi enze Uni e si y P ess
Sugges ed Ci a ion: F oning, Paul; S o en, Rike (2024) : Shaping e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems
h ough social inno a ions: The example o Valposchia o, Swi ze land, I alian Re iew o Ag icul u al
Economics (REA), ISSN 2281-1559, Fi enze Uni e si y P ess, Flo ence, Vol. 79, Iss. 1, pp. 33-46,
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ISSN 0035-6190 (p in ) | ISSN 2281-1559 (online) | DOI: 10.36253/ ea-14833
REA ITALIAN REVIEW
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ITALIAN REVIEW
OF AGRICULTURAL
ECONOMICS
Ci a ion: F oning, P., & S o en, R.
(2024). Shaping e i o ial ag i- ood sys-
ems h ough social inno a ions: The
example o Valposchia o, Swi ze land.
I alian Re iew o Ag icul u al Econom-
ics 79(1): 33-46. DOI: 10.36253/ ea-
14833
Recei ed: Oc obe 18, 2023
Re ised: Feb ua y 26, 2024
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ORCID
PF: 0009-0007-4099-2947
RS: 0000-0002-6193-8233
Ag i ood sys em be ween global and e i o ial ision – Resea ch a icle
Shaping e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems
h ough social inno a ions: The example o
Valposchia o, Swi ze land
Paul F oning*, Rike S o en
Ins i u e o Sociology, Moun ain Ag icul u e Resea ch Uni , Uni e si y o Innsb uck, Inns-
b uck, Aus ia
*Co esponding au ho . E-mail: paul. [email protected]
Abs ac . Te i o ial ag i- ood sys ems can be cha ac e ized as social inno a ions ha
challenge co po a e ood go e nance. These sys ems in ol e a di e se a ay o ac o s
ope a ing a he local le el, wi h he sha ed objec i e o p omo ing locally sou ced and
en i onmen ally sus ainable p oduc s. To gain deepe insigh s in o he in e play o
social inno a ion and e i o ial go e nance, we in es iga ed he case o Valposchia o,
Swi ze land. In his unique se ing, di e se ac o s ha e ini ia ed an inno a i e app oach
o e i o ial de elopmen , emphasizing he e alo izing o local esou ces. To un a el
he in icacies o he de elopmen p ocess, we applied he e i o ial social inno a ion
amewo k, speci ically ailo ed o analyzing he ole o social inno a ions wi hin Val-
poschia o’s e i o ial ag i- ood sys em. Ou esea ch inco po a ed exis ing in e iews
and supplemen ed hem wi h p oblem-cen ed in e iews conduc ed in he ield. Resul s
unde sco e ha he de elopmen app oach o 100% Valposchia o cons i u es a e i o ial
social inno a ion. This inno a ion is e iden in he o ma ion o di e se local collabo a-
ions, es ablishing no el mul i-ac o se ings wi hin he e i o ial ag i- ood sys em, wi h
an emphasis on collec i e alues aligned wi h o ganic ag icul u e. Ou s udy also iden i-
ies an inno a i e e i o ial go e nance app oach aimed a ob aining ce i ica ion as an
o ganic egion in he u u e. This signi ies a p oac i e s ep owa ds c ea ing a sus ain-
able and ce i ied o ganic amewo k o ins i u ionalize e i o ial ag i- ood sys em.
Keywo ds: social inno a ion, ag i- ood sys ems, ag i- ood ne wo ks, e i o ial go -
e nance, o ganic egions, Valposchia o.
JEL codes: Q, R.
HIGHLIGHTS
– 100% Valposchia o cons i u es a e i o ial social inno a ion ha chal-
lenges es ablished co po a e ood go e nance s uc u es.
– The Valposchia o e i o ial ag i- ood sys em p io i izes he e alo iza-
ion o local esou ces by s eng hening alues-based supply chains ini i-
a ed by local ac o s.
– A he go e nance le el, he e i o ial ag i- ood sys em is shaped by
local mul i-ac o collabo a ions es ablishing a comp ehensi e s a egy o
achie ing ce i ica ion as an o ganic egion in he longe e m.
34 Paul F oning, Rike S o en
1. INTRODUCTION
Recen deba es (Boswo h e al., 2020; Neumeie ,
2012; Bock, 2016) emphasize he ole o social inno a ion
in e i o ial de elopmen , s essing he social dimen-
sion o success ul u al de elopmen . Social inno a ion
is he ein de ined as a se o p ocesses p opelled by social
collabo a ion and lea ning, aimed a add essing unme
social needs (Bock, 2016: 4). An example o social inno a-
ion would be al e na i e ood ne wo ks (AFNs), concep-
ualized as ne wo ks challenging co po a e ood go e n-
ance by o e ing new ways o p oduc ion and consump-
ion o ood (Ve che , 2022). A mo e ecen mani es a ion
o AFNs a e e i o ialized ag i- ood sys ems, highligh -
ing he spa ial impo ance o AFNs. Ins ead o educing
he pe spec i e on single ini ia i es, as AFNs end o do
(Lamine e al., 2018), e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems adop a
holis ic pe spec i e, s a ing om he en i e e i o y wi h
i s local speci ici ies and a di e si y o ini ia i es. Te i-
o ial ag i- ood sys ems aspi e o emb ace “ he di e si y
o ac o s in ol ed in he p oduc ion, p ocessing, dis ibu-
ion and consump ion o ood p oduc s a he e i o ial
scale who aim a a ou ing local and ecological p oduc s”
(Lamine e al., 2018: 4).The ac i e in ol emen o di e se
ac o s shaping such sys ems is e e ed o as local agency
(Lamine e al., 2018). Schola s (Lamine e al., 2018; Ve ch-
e , 2022; Sanz-Cañada and Muchnik, 2016) ha e explo ed
small-scale app oaches o AFNs as exp essions o e i o-
ial ag i- ood sys ems. On a la ge scale, we also conside
o ganic egions as a o m o e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems,
as his no el app oach aligns wi h he alues o o ganic
a ming o e i o ial de elopmen (S o en and F oning,
2023; Packe and Zanasi, 2023).
In Valposchia o, Swi ze land, a dynamic g oup o
ac o s has ini ia ed an inno a i e e i o ial de elopmen
app oach known as 100% Valposchia o, d i en by social
collabo a ion wi h an emphasis on e alo izing local
esou ces (S o en and F oning, 2023; S e le and Maye ,
2023). This con ibu ion aims o elucida e he ole and
signi icance o social inno a ions wi hin he app oach
100% Valposchia o as a e i o ial ag i- ood sys em. Ou
hypo hesis is ha he e i o ial ag i- ood sys em o Val-
poschia o ep esen s e i o ial social inno a ions. In
add essing he limi ed concep ual amewo ks explo ing
social inno a ion p ocesses (Bock, 2016), we apply he
heo e ical amewo k e i o ial social inno a ion (Te -
iSI), de eloped by Ve che (2022), o analyze he ac ions
ha make up hese social inno a ions. We ask: How
does he e i o ial ag i- ood sys em o he de elopmen
app oach o 100% Valposchia o cons i u e a Te iSI?
We p oceed as ollows: In Sec ion 2 we p esen he
concep o e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems, in Sec ion 3 we
explo e he need o a concep ual amewo k in es iga -
ing e i o ial social inno a ions. In Sec ion 4 we p o-
ide ma e ial abou he case s udy egion and he me h-
ods applied. In Sec ion 5 we desc ibe and discuss he
e i o ial ag i- ood sys em, ocusing on di e se ac o
cons ella ions ha gi e ise o inno a i e social ela ions
and p ac ices. Finally, hese indings a e syn hesized in
he con ex o he esea ch ques ion and conclusions a e
d awn in Sec ion 6.
2. RESEARCH CONTEXT: TERRITORIAL
AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS
Wi hin he global capi alis ic economic hegemony,
co po a e ood go e nance domina es ag icul u al and
ood sys ems, concep ually amed as he co po a e ood
egime (Jakobsen, 2021; F iedmann and McMichael,
1989). I is cha ac e ized by a powe shi om manu-
ac u e s o ansna ional (ag ibusiness) co po a ions,
s ong inancializa ion and p i a iza ion o he en i e
ag i- ood sec o (Jakobsen, 2021), and a limi ed agency
o local ac o s wi hin al e na i e ood sys ems (S o -
en, 2024). One impo an consequence o he co po a e
ood egime is he in eg a ion and in e connec i i y o
u al a eas ‒ as places o ag icul u al p oduc ion ‒ in o
global, la ge-scale, and dis anced supply chains and
capi alis ic ma ke s uc u es (Jakobsen, 2021), leading
o a globalized coun yside (Woods 2007: 492). Wha is
desc ibed as “ ood om nowhe e” (McMichael, 2005;
Campbell, 2009) can be unde s ood as a disembedding
(Polanyi, 1973 in E mann e al., 2018: 41) o u al ag i-
ood sys ems as well as adi ional li elihoods. I leads o
he e osion o social cohesion o communi ies (E mann
e al., 2018). The opposing concep o “ ood om some-
whe e” Campbell (2009) cap u es he call o egionali-
za ion o ag i- ood sys ems ha a e pe cei ed as socially
and ecologically mo e embedded in social s uc u es o
communi ies and con ibu e o he socio-economic well-
being o communi ies (Campbell, 2009: 313; E mann e
al., 2018). Addi ionally, ollowing Sche me (2015), he
“ ood om he e” app oach amoun s o a de-commod-
i ica ion o ood ha e eals new o ms o agency in
ood chains. One exp ession o his app oach a e AFNs
(Ren ing e al., 2003; E mann e al., 2018; Lamine e
al., 2012), unde s ood as close p oduce and consume
ne wo ks, o en ini ia ed h ough local ci ic engage-
men and aimed a democ a izing he ag i- ood sys em
(Lamine e al., 2018; Ve che 2022). In AFNs local ac o s
ini ia e no el o ms o a he sho and closed ood sup-
ply chains in a gi en e i o y (Ren ing e al., 2003) o
inc ease he esilience o ag i- ood sys ems and o main-
35
Shaping e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems h ough social inno a ions: The example o Valposchia o, Swi ze land
ain u al li elihoods (Lamine e al., 2012; DuPuis and
Goodman, 2005).
Simila ly, so-called quali y ood ne wo ks eme ge
in he con ex o wha is e e ed o as a “quali y u n”
in ag i- ood s udies, wi h ini ia i es o local b ands and
geog aphic indica ions o e ing al e na i es o he co po-
a e ood egime (Lamine e al., 2018; Wa s e al., 2005).
While he analysis o bo h al e na i e ood and qual-
i y ood ne wo ks ends o cap u e only indi idual ini-
ia i es o p oduc s, e i o ial ag i- ood ne wo ks also
ake dis inc i e cha ac e is ics o e i o ies, adi ional
place-based a ming sys ems, and cul u al iden i ies o
a e i o y in o accoun as essen ial o achie ing sus-
ainable u al de elopmen (Lamine e al., 2018; Lamine
e al., 2012). Fu he , e i o ial ag i- ood ne wo ks a e
in eg a ed wi h o he ac i i ies in he e i o y, such as
landscape con e sa ion, ou ism, o educa ion (Lamine
e al., 2012). They encompass di e se ac o s ha combine
mos ly o ganic p oduc ion based on alues and p inciples
o o ganic ag icul u e wi h ag o-ecology o s eng hen
local, o ganic alues-based supply chains (Lamine e al.,
2018; Ve che , 2022; S o en e al., 2018). These alues-
based supply chains a e pa o he holis ic unde s and-
ing o a e i o ial ag i- ood sys em app oach ha u -
he aims o s eng hen e i o ial u al de elopmen in
gene al (Lamine e al., 2012; Lamine e al., 2018). This
e i o ial de elopmen can be spa ially ins i u ional-
ized h ough he c ea ion o o ganic egions (S o en and
F oning, 2023). Concep ually, Lamine e al., (2012) s ess
ha e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems ely, i s , on a di e -
si y o ini ia i es ha o m ne wo ks and, second, on
app op ia e go e nance mechanisms ha suppo hese
(p. 232). Fu he , he wide ac i e in ol emen o ac o s,
which is a o m o econ igu a ion o social ela ions and
p ac ices, is e iden in AFNs and can imp o e e i o i-
al ag i- ood sys ems in gene al. These new ela ions and
p ac ices a e he e o e c ucial o social inno a ion p o-
cesses, e e ed o below (Ve che , 2022).
3. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:
TERRITORIAL SOCIAL INNOVATION
Theo e ically, his a icle d aws on he concep s o
u al and e i o ial social inno a ion (SI) (Bock, 2016;
Ve che , 2022). Applied in complex and mul idiscipli-
na y se ings, SI se es as a go e nance p ac ice by poli-
cymake s bu mo e ecen ly also as a heo e ical con-
cep in esea ch (Moulae e al., 2017; Neumeie , 2012).
These di e se con ex s complica e a gene al de ini ion
(Bock, 2016; Secco e al., 2017), bu in he mos common
unde s anding SI is seen “[…] as a mo o o change oo -
ed in social collabo a ion and social lea ning, he esponse
o unme social needs as a desi able ou come, and socie y
as he a ena in which change should ake place.” (Bock,
2016: 4). SI is conside ed closely associa ed wi h local
de elopmen ini ia i es and ci ic ac ion o communi-
ies ha collec i ely p omo e new o imp o ed alues,
beha iou s, and p ac ices (Bock, 2016; Ve che , 2022;
Neumeie , 2012). Ve che (2022) he e o e highligh s SI
as a “p ocess o econ igu a ion in social ela ions ha
leads o new o ms o ac ion and enables he sa is ac-
ion o collec i e goals, whose main esul is he c ea ion
o social alue (p. 3). Gene ally SI gene a es bene icial
ou comes ha ackle nega i e impac s o globaliza ion
like ma ginaliza ion o ma ke p essu es on u al com-
muni ies. SI is able o imp o e he socio-economic si ua-
ion o communi ies, o example, h ough he p o ision
o small-scale sus ainable p oduc s and se ices, no el
o ms o business and ini ia i es, as well as h ough he
suppo o new in o ma ion and communica ion ech-
nologies (Ba lagne e al., 2021; Bock, 2016). In addi ion,
SI has in angible e ec s, such as social inclusion, capac-
i y-building h ough new collabo a i e ne wo ks, o
s onge communi y esilience (Ve che , 2022; Ba lagne
e al., 2021). Impo an ly, he concep o SI cen es on
local agency wi h cu en u al de elopmen app oaches
like he neo-endogenous de elopmen (Ray, 2006), as
bo h concep s a e o ien ed on local communi y and ci i-
zen engagemen . Simul aneously hey also acknowledge
exogenous and ex e nal ac o s, esou ces, and ne wo ks
as c ucial o ensu ing sus ainable u al de elopmen o
communi ies (Boswo h e al., 2020; Bock, 2016; Cha zi-
ch is os e al., 2021).
To o e come c i icism o SI as jus a buzzwo d and a
a he ague, b oad concep (Bock, 2016; Sche me and
K oismay , 2020), sound heo e ical ames a e needed
o concep ualize and g asp he p ocesses o SI (Neu-
meie , 2012; Bock, 2016). Recen ly Ve che (2022) has
p oposed such a concep ual amewo k (Figu e 1) o
analyzing SI p ocesses wi h a speci ic e i o ial ocus,
which he calls e i o ial social inno a ion (Te iSI). He
a gues ha “ h ough he gene a ion o new social ela-
ions, communi ies can implemen di e se p ac ices,
unleash o he ypes o inno a ions, and deli e e ec s in
unexpec ed domains […]” (p. 4) and hus achie e a e -
i o ial dimension o he social inno a ion p ocess. The
analysis o Te iSI p ocesses in a ce ain communi y
s a s wi h igge s based on he economic, socio-cul-
u al, and en i onmen al con ex o a speci ic e i o y.
They can be unde s ood as posi i e o nega i e impulses
ha ac i a e ini ial ac ion based on speci ic needs and
oppo uni ies o he e i o y. Bo h needs and oppo -
uni ies depend on he cons ella ion o di e se ac o s
36 Paul F oning, Rike S o en
in ol ed in he SI p ocess. Cen al o he concep is an
analysis o he econ igu a ion dimensions o social ela-
ions be ween he ac o s. This includes, i s , he econ-
igu a ion o ne wo ks; second, he econ igu a ion o
a i udes; and, hi d, he econ igu a ion o go e n-
ance p ocesses. While he i s one ocuses on eme g-
ing new ac o cons ella ions and he ole o di e en
ac o s, he second highligh s changing a i udes and
pe spec i es he ac o s de elop. The econ igu a ion o
go e nance p ocesses includes new o ms o coo di-
na ion and o ganiza ion wi hin he new ne wo k. Fo
empi ical in es iga ion, social inno a ion p ocesses in
AFNs wi h a explici ly e i o ial ocus a e a e (Ve che ,
2022). One no able excep ion is hei applica ion in he
con ex o an AFN on he island o Ibiza, Spain, which
e ealed ha social inno a ions wi h a s ong e i o ial
dimension signi ican ly con ibu e o he imp o emen
o AFNs (Ve che , 2022). Building on Ve che ’s (2022)
amewo k, his a icle ex ends he analysis beyond a
single AFN o encompass he nume ous ini ia i es and
ac o s ha o m 100% Valposchia o.
4. MATERIAL AND METHODS
Ou esea ch indings we e ob ained by a s udy using
he amewo k o alues-based modes o p oduc ion and
consump ion in a con empo a y ood egime, as ou -
lined in he p ojec (h ps:// oodal e na i es.a /). Wi hin
his con ex , he Valposchia o case s udy p o ided alu-
able insigh s in he e i o ial o ganiza ion o o ganic
egions (S o en and F oning, 2023). A b ie summa y o
he ma e ials and me hods is p esen ed he e while mo e
comp ehensi e in o ma ion can be ound in he co e-
sponding publica ion (S o en and F oning, 2023).
4.1. Case s udy a ea
Valposchia o, loca ed in he sou he n pa o Swi -
ze land in he can on o G isons and bo de ing on he
I alian egion o Lomba dy, co e s he communi ies
o Poschia o and B usio, which o m he poli ical dis-
ic o Regione Be nina (Figu e 2). The egion’s dis inc
geog aphy and opog aphy, anging om o e 3,000
m.a.s.l. o 553 m.a.s.l. in he sou h, c ea e mic oclima es
conduc i e o di e se a ming sys ems (Semadeni e al.,
1994; Len z, 1990). While adi ional a ming sys ems,
including mixed c op a ming wi h animal husband y
and a able a ming, emain in eg al o he socio-eco-
nomic well-being (Len z, 1990), he e is an ongoing shi
owa ds o ganic ag icul u e (B S, 2021). The local hyd o-
powe company Repowe , as well as he company Rhae-
ian T ain, which ope a es he Be nina ain line, a e
majo employe s in he alley (Regione Be nina, 2016;
Figu e 1. Concep ual amewo k o e i o ial social inno a ion (Te iSI) a e Ve che 2022, simpli ied.
37
Shaping e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems h ough social inno a ions: The example o Valposchia o, Swi ze land
Regionalen wicklung OBV, 2015). Mo eo e , he Rhae-
ian Railway, pa o he ain line be ween Thusis in
Swi ze land and Ti ano in I aly, is a UNESCO-ce i ied
cul u al wo ld he i age si e. This s a us con ibu es o
he local ou ism ocused on so ou ism op ions, pa -
icula ly in he summe season (S e le , 2021; Semadeni
e al., 1994). The cul u al iden i y o he popula ion is
hea ily in luenced by i s bo de loca ion o I aly, by mul-
ilingualism (I alian-speaking majo i y in he alley),
he local impo ance o cul u al he i age, and a his o i-
cally ongoing exchange in oducing ex e nal pe spec-
i es and new ideas in o he alley.
4.2. O e iew o egional de elopmen ini ia i es
The 100% Valposchia o, a e i o ial de elopmen
s a egy es ablished in he pas wo decades (How-
ald, 2015), in ol es se e al ini ia i es and p ojec s led
by local ac o s in ag icul u e, ou ism, he hospi ali y
ade, and egional planning. I s p ima y objec i e is o
e alo ize local ag i- ood supply chains and enhance he
socio-economic well-being o he communi y (Lumina i,
2021; Pola, 2020). A pi o al miles one was he o ma ion
o an Ag icul u al Compensa ion Fund G oup in 2012,
joined by he local hyd opowe company, he municipal-
i ies, and a me s associa ions (Pola, 2020), join ly dedi-
ca ed o s eng hening he local ag i- ood sec o (Lumi-
na i and Rinallo, 2021).
Guided by he ongoing implemen a ion o he
egional de elopmen p ojec (PRE1) since i s ini ia ion
in 2012 (Be i e al., 2014), his app oach has a h ee old
s a egy: Fi s , a ma ke ing concep is employed; sec-
ond, a B2B ma ke ing pla o m is es ablished o enhance
collabo a ion along he ag i- ood supply chains; and,
hi d, an o e a ching coo dina ion is main ained (Be i
1 PRE s ands o P ojek ü Regionale En wicklung (p ojec o egion-
al de elopmen ), which is a na ional unding scheme o suppo Swiss
ag icul u e and u al de elopmen in moun ain egions. The main aim
is o inc ease he added alue in he ag icul u al sec o ac oss se e al
supply chains in a ce ain egion. Mo e in o ma ion: PRE / P ojek
Regionale En wicklung <h ps://www.blw.admin.ch/blw/de/home/
ins umen e/laendliche-en wicklung-und-s uk u e besse ungen/
laendliche-en wicklung/was_is _ein_p e.h ml>.
Figu e 2. Map o Valposchia o, c ea ed by Judi h Schä e nol e.
38 Paul F oning, Rike S o en
e al., 2014; Lumina i and Rinallo, 2021). In 2015 he
local ou ism boa d Tu ismo Valposchia o, in collabo a-
ion wi h ag i- ood associa ions, launched he e i o ial
b and 100% Valposchia o. This ini ia i e, wi h a ious
dimensions, ocuses on e alo izing egional, adi ional,
and ypical p oduc s om Valposchia o h ough a ce i-
ica ion scheme (Howald, 2015).
In addi ion o hese p ac ical ini ia i es, local ac o s
a ilia ed wi h an educa ional aining and knowledge
cen e ha e de ised a long- e m s a egy, called Sma
Valley Bio, wi h he objec i e o ce i ying he alley as
an o ganic egion (Be i e al., 2014). The s a egy aims o
ansi ion he ag icul u al sec o o o ganic p oduc ion
while s eng hening sma landscape managemen (Be i
e al., 2014). One co e aspec o he s a egy is he Com-
muni y Hype map, a pa icipa o y digi al ool designed
o aise awa eness abou he cul u al landscape’s alue,
poin ing ou speci ic socio-cul u al and his o ic cha ac-
e is ics (Lumina i, 2021).
4.3. Me hodological app oach
To analyze he a ious ace s o he social inno a-
ion p ocess, we employ he heo e ical amewo k Te -
iSI de eloped by Ve che (2022). This amewo k high-
ligh s “ econ igu a ions o social ela ions” as he p ima-
y p ocess o Te iSI. Unco e ing hese econ igu a ions
equi es a quali a i e me hodology. The e o e we eana-
lyzed he comp ehensi e da a ob ained o he e i o ial
o ganiza ion o o ganic egions.
Ini ially a documen analysis (Bowen, 2009)
in ol ed he examina ion o publicly a ailable ideo
in e iews (Band el, 2015) p oduced wi h local and
ex e nal expe s du ing he scien i ic “Fo um ‒ O igin,
Di e si y, and Te i o ies” on he heme “B eakdown
and ebound o e i o ialized ood sys ems”2. T an-
sc ip s we e p o ided by he o um. As a ollow-up s ep
in ou esea ch me hodology, we unde ook a seconda y
analysis o quali a i e da a (Hea on, 2008; Ruggiano and
Pe y, 2019). This in ol ed he analysis o an in e iew
ansc ip conduc ed wi h an expe in he con ex o
ano he esea ch p ojec (S e le , 2021). Because o chal-
lenges in con ac ing his indi idual and an alignmen
2 The o um O igin, Di e si y and Te i o ies is an in e na ional scien i -
ic pla o m on he in e ac ions be ween cul u al and biologi-cal di e si-
ies and he sus ainable e i o ial alo iza ion o p oduc s and se ices
whose quali y is linked o hei o igin. The ideos we e eco ded by sci-
en is s o he Fo um du ing he e en held on 13-15 Oc obe 2021, in
Valposchia o Swi ze land. Mo e in o ma ion: h ps://o igin- o -sus ain-
abili y.o g/en/page-daccueil-en/. Videos a e publicly a ailable online:
h ps://www.you ube.com/wa ch? = unP_q9 IYk&lis =PLhCbJMRU6m
EeEbiZ8 ll9 2eF N2YJ uA&index=8
o esea ch objec i es, we op ed o euse he exis ing
quali a i e ma e ial, emphasizing e iciency in exis ing
esou ces and esea ch unding (Hea on, 2008). Build-
ing on his explo a i e g oundwo k, we conduc ed in-
dep h, p oblem-cen ed in e iews (Bogne e al., 2009)
wi h i e expe s in Janua y 2023, supplemen ed by one
expe in e iew online. Addi ionally, b ie in o mal
in e iews wi h s akeholde s, such as bake s, a pas a
p oduce , es au an s, ho els, and a me s, we e docu-
men ed in p o ocols (G ay and Jensen, 2022) o sub-
sequen e alua ion (see Appendix). All in e iew an-
sc ip s we e anonymized by he au ho s, howe e , o
expe s ep esen ing public bodies hei unc ion was
no anonymized.
The da a ob ained om he ideo in e iews, he
exis ing in e iew, and sel -conduc ed in e iews unde -
wen a desc ip i e e alua ion h ough quali a i e con-
en analysis acco ding o May ing (2015). The coding
p ocess, acili a ed by he so wa e MAXQDA, had p e-
iously been execu ed o he ini ial s udy in Valposchi-
a o (S o en and F oning, 2023). Fo his a icle’s speci ic
ocus on social inno a ion, we ex ac ed codes om he
exis ing da ase ha deal wi h social inno a ion aspec s.
Employing he Te iSI amewo k wi h speci ic ocus on
he p ocess o “ econ igu a ion o social ela ions” (Fig-
u e 1), we applied hese codes o he amewo k o u -
he in e p e a ion.
5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In he ollowing sec ion we p esen and discuss ou
esul s wi hin he amewo k o Te iSI as sugges ed by
Ve che (2022) (Sec ion 3, Figu e 3). The indi idual sub-
sec ions below explo e he pi o al elemen s o he Te iSI
amewo k.
5.1. Con ex , needs & oppo uni ies o he e i o y
As a pe iphe al and emo e moun ain alley, Val-
poschia o is acing demog aphic changes, such as an
aging popula ion, you h ou mig a ion by young peo-
ple, and di e se socio-economic challenges. This, cou-
pled wi h he gene al decline in moun ain ag icul u e
(MacDonald e al., 2000; Semadeni e al., 1994), high-
ligh s he need o eju ena e he local ag i- ood sys em.
Despi e s ong social ies, demog aphic changes and
ou mig a ion has led o dec eased a ming ac i i ies
and a lack o local collabo a i e ag i- ood supply chains
(Semadeni e al., 1994; Howald, 2015). In addi ion, Val-
poschia o possesses unique cha ac e is ics ha can se e
as oppo uni ies o inno a i e ag i- ood ini ia i es. The
39
Shaping e i o ial ag i- ood sys ems h ough social inno a ions: The example o Valposchia o, Swi ze land
local popula ion’s s ong ies o he cul u al landscape,
ma ked by di e se a ming ac i i ies and aes he ic land-
scape pa e ns (Schi pke e al., 2019), p esen s po en ial
o e i o ial inno a ion.
The ich in e cul u al exchange in Valposchia o is
e iden in adi ional ag i- ood p oduc s, in luenced by
his o ic ela ions wi h neighbou ing Val ellina, I aly.
Examples include he adi ional pas a dish Pizzoche i,
o he Valposchia o cheese, showcasing he his o ic and
e i o ial alue a ibu ed o local ag i- ood p oduc s.
Ano he oppo uni y o e i o ial inno a ions lies in
Valposchia o’s cul u al he i age, exempli ied by UNE-
SCO Wo ld He i age ce i ica ion o he Be nina ain
line in 2008 (Pola, 2020), o he es o a ion o adi ional
a ming sys ems on e aced d ys one walls.
Ongoing mig a ion om Valposchia o o wo k o
educa ion, coupled wi h s ong social ies, leads o some
indi iduals e u ning o he alley (G ache a e al.,
2019; Bausch, 2014). Re u nees b ing ex e nal knowl-
edge, os e ing social inno a ion (Flo ida, 2002; Bausch,
2014), exempli ied by key con ibu o s shaping he
de elopmen o 100% Valposchia o. The high o ganic
a ming a e, exceeding 90% in 2022, ini ia ed by Bio-
Pionee s 40 yea s ago, p esen s a signi ican oppo uni y
o e i o ial inno a ion in he ag i- ood sec o (Da n-
ho e , 2005).
5.2. T igge s
In esponse o iden i ied needs and oppo uni ies,
he Te iSI (Figu e 3) in Valposchia o’s ag i- ood sys-
em is encapsula ed in he ini ia i e known as 100%
Valposchia o as illus a ed in Figu e 3 and de ailed by
S e le and Maye (2023). The impe us o his inno-
a ion can be aced by o a 2004/2005 s udy on local
o ganic ag icul u e, which e ealed a no ably high pe -
cen age o o ganic a ms. This s udy inspi ed e o s o
inc ease he p e alence o o ganic a ming and p od-
uc s while enhancing added alue wi hin he alley.
In 2012 he es ablishmen o an Ag icul u al Compen-
sa ion Fund G oup ma ked a delibe a e mo e by local
ac o s o s eng hen he ag i- ood sec o on a e i o-
ial le el. Financial suppo om he local hyd opowe
company played an impo an ole o he la e de el-
opmen p ocess.
The collec i e decision o pu sue an in eg a ed and
e i o ial app oach in ol ing a ious ac o s and sec-
o s, a he han a me e compensa ion paymen , can be
unde s ood as a igge wi hin he Te iSI amewo k
(Figu e 3). This ini ia i e, in collabo a ion wi h expe i-
enced local ac o s in egional de elopmen , e ol ed in o
he PRE 100% (bio) Valposchia o p oposal. Simul ane-
ously, a new ex e nal ou ism di ec o in Valposchia o
Figu e 3. Te iSI p ocess o he 100% Valposchia o, ollowing Ve che 2022, c ea ed by he au ho s.
40 Paul F oning, Rike S o en
championed an in eg a ed ou ism model, os e ing close
collabo a ion be ween local ag i- ood sys em ac o s and
ou ism. Fa me s’ coope a i es, oge he wi h he new
ou ism boa d, c ea ed he e i o ial b and 100% Val-
poschia o o e alo ize ag i- ood p oduc s om he al-
ley and p omo e local added alue.
5.3. Recon igu a ion o social ela ions
The aspec s elucida ed in he p eceding subsec ions
se e as he ounda ion o eshaping social ela ions,
cen al elemen o he Te iSI amewo k (c . Sec ion 3,
Figu es 2 and 3). Di e se ac o s ac i ely con ibu e o he
de elopmen o he Te iSI 100% Valposchia o by ini ia -
ing h ee key p ocesses o eshape social ela ions. Fi s ,
hey es ablish inno a i e in e nal as well as ex e nal ne -
wo ks and collabo a ions wi hin he e i o ial ag i- ood
sys em. Second, hei e o s concen a e on os e ing
collec i e a i udes and alues. Thi d, hey de ise new
coo dina ion mechanisms and b oade e i o ial de el-
opmen s uc u es. The subsequen sec ions examine and
discuss hese h ee aspec s in de ail.
5.4. In e nal and ex e nal ne wo ks
Recon igu ed ne wo ks o m a c ucial pa wi hin he
p ocess o social inno a ions (Ve che , 2022). Fig. 4 shows
he ne wo k o impo an ac o s and ini ia i es, ollowing
he ne wo k con igu a ion by Ve che 2022 (p. 11).
In he e i o ial ag i- ood sys em di e se ac o s,
spanning p oduce s, he hospi ali y ade, accommo-
da ion se ices, indus y, egional de elopmen , and
poli ics (Figu e 4) a e shaping p ocesses a ound 100%
Valposchia o, he PRE o he Sma Valley Bio s a egy.
Ins ead o a single closed ne wo k, mul iple in e nal and
ex e nal ne wo ks exis , cha ac e ized by loose and o e -
lapping connec ions (Figu e 4). In addi ion, h ee key
ac o s signi ican ly shape he de elopmen p ocess o
he Te iSI 100% Valposchia o (also S o en and F oning,
2023). Fi s , a publicly unded ins i u ion, es ablished in
he 1990s as an educa ional aining cen e, especially in
ICT, has e ol ed in o a local hub o ini ia ing and man-
aging egional de elopmen p ojec s. Se ing as a cen al
poin whe e a ious p ojec s a e ini ia ed, his cen e
links ac o s wi hin and ou side he e i o y and plays
an inno a i e ole (Ve che , 2022) in he o e all p o-
cess. Second, he local ou ism en i y Tu ismo Valposchi-
a o ac i ely shapes and p omo es he Te iSI, owning
he e i o ial b and 100% Valposchia o and o e seeing
he ma ke ing concep o he PRE. This di ec connec-
ion o ou ism wi h he ag i- ood sys em aligns wi h
sus ainable egional de elopmen (Kauppila e al., 2009).
Thi d, he coo dina o o he PRE 100% (bio) Valposchi-
a o akes cha ge o p ojec implemen a ion by os e ing
collabo a ion along he supply chains and consul ing
Figu e 4. Ne wo k o ac o s wi hin he Te iSI 100% Valposchia o, con igu a ion by Ve che 2022, c ea ed by he au ho s.
