Shaping territorial agri-food systems through social innovations: The example of Valposchiavo, Switzerland

Froning, Paul; Stotten, Rike Article Shaping territorial agri-food systems through social innovations: The example of Valposchiavo, Switzerland Italian Review of Agricultural Economics (REA) Provided in Cooperation with: Firenze University Press Suggested Citation: Froning, Paul; Stotten, Rike (2024) : Shaping territorial agri-food systems through social innovations: The example of Valposchiavo, Switzerland, Italian Review of Agricultural Economics (REA), ISSN 2281-1559, Firenze University Press, Florence, Vol. 79, Iss. 1, pp. 33-46, https://doi.org/10.36253/rea-14833 This Version is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/325675 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. 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If the documents have been made available under an Open Content Licence (especially Creative Commons Licences), you may exercise further usage rights as specified in the indicated licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Italian Review of Agricultural Economics Vol. 79, n. 1: 33-46, 2024 Firenze University Press www.fupress.com/rea ISSN 0035-6190 (print) | ISSN 2281-1559 (online) | DOI: 10.36253/rea-14833 REA ITALIAN REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS ITALIAN REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS Citation: Froning, P., & Stotten, R. (2024). Shaping territorial agri-food systems through social innovations: The example of Valposchiavo, Switzerland. Italian Review of Agricultural Economics 79(1): 33-46. DOI: 10.36253/rea- 14833 Received: October 18, 2023 Revised: February 26, 2024 Accepted: April 04, 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Froning, P., & Stotten, R. This is an open access, peerreviewed article published by Firenze University Press (https://www.fupress. com/rea) and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Data Availability Statement: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files. Competing Interests: The Author(s) declare(s) no conflict of interest. Guest Editor: Bernard Pecqueur, Marcello De Rosa, Catia Zumpano ORCID PF: 0009-0007-4099-2947 RS: 0000-0002-6193-8233 Agrifood system between global and territorial vision – Research article Shaping territorial agri-food systems through social innovations: The example of Valposchiavo, Switzerland Paul Froning*, Rike Stotten Institute of Sociology, Mountain Agriculture Research Unit, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. Territorial agri-food systems can be characterized as social innovations that challenge corporate food governance. These systems involve a diverse array of actors operating at the local level, with the shared objective of promoting locally sourced and environmentally sustainable products. To gain deeper insights into the interplay of social innovation and territorial governance, we investigated the case of Valposchiavo, Switzerland. In this unique setting, diverse actors have initiated an innovative approach to territorial development, emphasizing the revalorizing of local resources. To unravel the intricacies of the development process, we applied the territorial social innovation framework, specifically tailored for analyzing the role of social innovations within Valposchiavo’s territorial agri-food system. Our research incorporated existing interviews and supplemented them with problem-centred interviews conducted in the field. Results underscore that the development approach of 100% Valposchiavo constitutes a territorial social innovation. This innovation is evident in the formation of diverse local collaborations, establishing novel multi-actor settings within the territorial agri-food system, with an emphasis on collective values aligned with organic agriculture. Our study also identifies an innovative territorial governance approach aimed at obtaining certification as an organic region in the future. This signifies a proactive step towards creating a sustainable and certified organic framework to institutionalize territorial agri-food system. Keywords: social innovation, agri-food systems, agri-food networks, territorial governance, organic regions, Valposchiavo. JEL codes: Q, R. HIGHLIGHTS – 100% Valposchiavo constitutes a territorial social innovation that challenges established corporate food governance structures. – The Valposchiavo territorial agri-food system prioritizes the revalorization of local resources by strengthening values-based supply chains initiated by local actors. – At the governance level, the territorial agri-food system is shaped by local multi-actor collaborations establishing a comprehensive strategy for achieving certification as an organic region in the longer term. 34 Paul Froning, Rike Stotten 1. INTRODUCTION Recent debates (Bosworth et al., 2020; Neumeier, 2012; Bock, 2016) emphasize the role of social innovation in territorial development, stressing the social dimension for successful rural development. Social innovation is herein defined as a set of processes propelled by social collaboration and learning, aimed at addressing unmet social needs (Bock, 2016: 4). An example of social innovation would be alternative food networks (AFNs), conceptualized as networks challenging corporate food governance by offering new ways of production and consumption of food (Vercher, 2022). A more recent manifestation of AFNs are territorialized agri-food systems, highlighting the spatial importance of AFNs. Instead of reducing the perspective on single initiatives, as AFNs tend to do (Lamine et al., 2018), territorial agri-food systems adopt a holistic perspective, starting from the entire territory with its local specificities and a diversity of initiatives. Territorial agri-food systems aspire to embrace “the diversity of actors involved in the production, processing, distribution and consumption of food products at the territorial scale who aim at favouring local and ecological products” (Lamine et al., 2018: 4).The active involvement of diverse actors shaping such systems is referred to as local agency (Lamine et al., 2018). Scholars (Lamine et al., 2018; Vercher, 2022; Sanz-Cañada and Muchnik, 2016) have explored small-scale approaches of AFNs as expressions of territorial agri-food systems. On a larger scale, we also consider organic regions as a form of territorial agri-food systems, as this novel approach aligns with the values of organic farming for territorial development (Stotten and Froning, 2023; Packer and Zanasi, 2023). In Valposchiavo, Switzerland, a dynamic group of actors has initiated an innovative territorial development approach known as 100% Valposchiavo, driven by social collaboration with an emphasis on revalorizing local resources (Stotten and Froning, 2023; Stettler and Mayer, 2023). This contribution aims to elucidate the role and significance of social innovations within the approach 100% Valposchiavo as a territorial agri-food system. Our hypothesis is that the territorial agri-food system of Valposchiavo represents territorial social innovations. In addressing the limited conceptual frameworks exploring social innovation processes (Bock, 2016), we apply the theoretical framework territorial social innovation (TerriSI), developed by Vercher (2022), to analyze the actions that make up these social innovations. We ask: How does the territorial agri-food system of the development approach of 100% Valposchiavo constitute a TerriSI? We proceed as follows: In Section 2 we present the concept of territorial agri-food systems, in Section 3 we explore the need for a conceptual framework investigating territorial social innovations. In Section 4 we provide material about the case study region and the methods applied. In Section 5 we describe and discuss the territorial agri-food system, focusing on diverse actor constellations that give rise to innovative social relations and practices. Finally, these findings are synthesized in the context of the research question and conclusions are drawn in Section 6. 2. RESEARCH CONTEXT: TERRITORIAL AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS Within the global capitalistic economic hegemony, corporate food governance dominates agricultural and food systems, conceptually framed as the corporate food regime (Jakobsen, 2021; Friedmann and McMichael, 1989). It is characterized by a power shift from manufacturers to transnational (agribusiness) corporations, strong financialization and privatization of the entire agri-food sector (Jakobsen, 2021), and a limited agency of local actors within alternative food systems (Stotten, 2024). One important consequence of the corporate food regime is the integration and interconnectivity of rural areas ‒ as places of agricultural production ‒ into global, large-scale, and distanced supply chains and capitalistic market structures (Jakobsen, 2021), leading to a globalized countryside (Woods 2007: 492). What is described as “food from nowhere” (McMichael, 2005; Campbell, 2009) can be understood as a disembedding (Polanyi, 1973 in Ermann et al., 2018: 41) of rural agrifood systems as well as traditional livelihoods. It leads to the erosion of social cohesion of communities (Ermann et al., 2018). The opposing concept of “food from somewhere” Campbell (2009) captures the call for regionalization of agri-food systems that are perceived as socially and ecologically more embedded in social structures of communities and contribute to the socio-economic wellbeing of communities (Campbell, 2009: 313; Ermann et al., 2018). Additionally, following Schermer (2015), the “food from here” approach amounts to a de-commod- ification of food that reveals new forms of agency in food chains. One expression of this approach are AFNs (Renting et al., 2003; Ermann et al., 2018; Lamine et al., 2012), understood as close producer and consumer networks, often initiated through local civic engagement and aimed at democratizing the agri-food system (Lamine et al., 2018; Vercher 2022). In AFNs local actors initiate novel forms of rather short and closed food supply chains in a given territory (Renting et al., 2003) to increase the resilience of agri-food systems and to main- 35 Shaping territorial agri-food systems through social innovations: The example of Valposchiavo, Switzerland tain rural livelihoods (Lamine et al., 2012; DuPuis and Goodman, 2005). Similarly, so-called quality food networks emerge in the context of what is referred to as a “quality turn” in agri-food studies, with initiatives of local brands and geographic indications offering alternatives to the corporate food regime (Lamine et al., 2018; Watts et al., 2005). While the analysis of both alternative food and quality food networks tends to capture only individual initiatives or products, territorial agri-food networks also take distinctive characteristics of territories, traditional place-based farming systems, and cultural identities of a territory into account as essential for achieving sustainable rural development (Lamine et al., 2018; Lamine et al., 2012). Further, territorial agri-food networks are integrated with other activities in the territory, such as landscape conversation, tourism, or education (Lamine et al., 2012). They encompass diverse actors that combine mostly organic production based on values and principles of organic agriculture with agro-ecology to strengthen local, organic values-based supply chains (Lamine et al., 2018; Vercher, 2022; Stotten et al., 2018). These valuesbased supply chains are part of the holistic understanding of a territorial agri-food system approach that further aims to strengthen territorial rural development in general (Lamine et al., 2012; Lamine et al., 2018). This territorial development can be spatially institutionalized through the creation of organic regions (Stotten and Froning, 2023). Conceptually, Lamine et al., (2012) stress that territorial agri-food systems rely, first, on a diversity of initiatives that form networks and, second, on appropriate governance mechanisms that support these (p. 232). Further, the wider active involvement of actors, which is a form of reconfiguration of social relations and practices, is evident in AFNs and can improve territorial agri-food systems in general. These new relations and practices are therefore crucial for social innovation processes, referred to below (Vercher, 2022). 3. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: TERRITORIAL SOCIAL INNOVATION Theoretically, this article draws on the concepts of rural and territorial social innovation (SI) (Bock, 2016; Vercher, 2022). Applied in complex and multidisciplinary settings, SI serves as a governance practice by policymakers but more recently also as a theoretical concept in research (Moulaert et al., 2017; Neumeier, 2012). These diverse contexts complicate a general definition (Bock, 2016; Secco et al., 2017), but in the most common understanding SI is seen “[…] as a motor of change rooted in social collaboration and social learning, the response to unmet social needs as a desirable outcome, and society as the arena in which change should take place.” (Bock, 2016: 4). SI is considered closely associated with local development initiatives and civic action of communities that collectively promote new or improved values, behaviours, and practices (Bock, 2016; Vercher, 2022; Neumeier, 2012). Vercher (2022) therefore highlights SI as a “process of reconfiguration in social relations that leads to new forms of action and enables the satisfaction of collective goals, whose main result is the creation of social value (p. 3). Generally SI generates beneficial outcomes that tackle negative impacts of globalization like marginalization or market pressures on rural communities. SI is able to improve the socio-economic situation of communities, for example, through the provision of small-scale sustainable products and services, novel forms of business and initiatives, as well as through the support of new information and communication technologies (Barlagne et al., 2021; Bock, 2016). In addition, SI has intangible effects, such as social inclusion, capacity-building through new collaborative networks, or stronger community resilience (Vercher, 2022; Barlagne et al., 2021). Importantly, the concept of SI centres on local agency with current rural development approaches like the neo-endogenous development (Ray, 2006), as both concepts are oriented on local community and citizen engagement. Simultaneously they also acknowledge exogenous and external factors, resources, and networks as crucial for ensuring sustainable rural development of communities (Bosworth et al., 2020; Bock, 2016; Chatzichristos et al., 2021). To overcome criticism of SI as just a buzzword and a rather vague, broad concept (Bock, 2016; Schermer and Kroismayr, 2020), sound theoretical frames are needed to conceptualize and grasp the processes of SI (Neumeier, 2012; Bock, 2016). Recently Vercher (2022) has proposed such a conceptual framework (Figure 1) for analyzing SI processes with a specific territorial focus, which he calls territorial social innovation (TerriSI). He argues that “through the generation of new social relations, communities can implement diverse practices, unleash other types of innovations, and deliver effects in unexpected domains […]” (p. 4) and thus achieve a territorial dimension of the social innovation process. The analysis of TerriSI processes in a certain community starts with triggers based on the economic, socio-cul- tural, and environmental context of a specific territory. They can be understood as positive or negative impulses that activate initial action based on specific needs and opportunities of the territory. Both needs and opportunities depend on the constellation of diverse actors 36 Paul Froning, Rike Stotten involved in the SI process. Central to the concept is an analysis of the reconfiguration dimensions of social relations between the actors. This includes, first, the reconfiguration of networks; second, the reconfiguration of attitudes; and, third, the reconfiguration of governance processes. While the first one focuses on emerging new actor constellations and the role of different actors, the second highlights changing attitudes and perspectives the actors develop. The reconfiguration of governance processes includes new forms of coordination and organization within the new network. For empirical investigation, social innovation processes in AFNs with a explicitly territorial focus are rare (Vercher, 2022). One notable exception is their application in the context of an AFN on the island of Ibiza, Spain, which revealed that social innovations with a strong territorial dimension significantly contribute to the improvement of AFNs (Vercher, 2022). Building on Vercher’s (2022) framework, this article extends the analysis beyond a single AFN to encompass the numerous initiatives and actors that form 100% Valposchiavo. 4. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our research findings were obtained by a study using the framework of values-based modes of production and consumption in a contemporary food regime, as outlined in the project (https://foodalternatives.at/). Within this context, the Valposchiavo case study provided valuable insights in the territorial organization of organic regions (Stotten and Froning, 2023). A brief summary of the materials and methods is presented here while more comprehensive information can be found in the corresponding publication (Stotten and Froning, 2023). 4.1. Case study area Valposchiavo, located in the southern part of Switzerland in the canton of Grisons and bordering on the Italian region of Lombardy, covers the communities of Poschiavo and Brusio, which form the political district of Regione Bernina (Figure 2). The region’s distinct geography and topography, ranging from over 3,000 m.a.s.l. to 553 m.a.s.l. in the south, create microclimates conductive to diverse farming systems (Semadeni et al., 1994; Lentz, 1990). While traditional farming systems, including mixed crop farming with animal husbandry and arable farming, remain integral to the socio-eco- nomic well-being (Lentz, 1990), there is an ongoing shift towards organic agriculture (BfS, 2021). The local hydropower company Repower, as well as the company Rhaetian Train, which operates the Bernina train line, are major employers in the valley (Regione Bernina, 2016; Figure 1. Conceptual framework of territorial social innovation (TerriSI) after Vercher 2022, simplified. 37 Shaping territorial agri-food systems through social innovations: The example of Valposchiavo, Switzerland Regionalentwicklung OBV, 2015). Moreover, the Rhaetian Railway, part of the train line between Thusis in Switzerland and Tirano in Italy, is a UNESCO-certified cultural world heritage site. This status contributes to the local tourism focused on soft tourism options, particularly in the summer season (Stettler, 2021; Semadeni et al., 1994). The cultural identity of the population is heavily influenced by its border location to Italy, by multilingualism (Italian-speaking majority in the valley), the local importance of cultural heritage, and a historically ongoing exchange introducing external perspectives and new ideas into the valley. 4.2. Overview of regional development initiatives The 100% Valposchiavo, a territorial development strategy established in the past two decades (Howald, 2015), involves several initiatives and projects led by local actors in agriculture, tourism, the hospitality trade, and regional planning. Its primary objective is to revalorize local agri-food supply chains and enhance the socio-economic well-being of the community (Luminati, 2021; Pola, 2020). A pivotal milestone was the formation of an Agricultural Compensation Fund Group in 2012, joined by the local hydropower company, the municipalities, and farmers associations (Pola, 2020), jointly dedicated to strengthening the local agri-food sector (Luminati and Rinallo, 2021). Guided by the ongoing implementation of the regional development project (PRE1) since its initiation in 2012 (Beti et al., 2014), this approach has a threefold strategy: First, a marketing concept is employed; second, a B2B marketing platform is established to enhance collaboration along the agri-food supply chains; and, third, an overarching coordination is maintained (Beti 1 PRE stands for Projekt für Regionale Entwicklung (project for regional development), which is a national funding scheme to support Swiss agriculture and rural development in mountain regions. The main aim is to increase the added value in the agricultural sector across several supply chains in a certain region. More information: PRE / Projekt Regionale Entwicklung <https://www.blw.admin.ch/blw/de/home/ instrumente/laendliche-entwicklung-und-strukturverbesserungen/ laendliche-entwicklung/was_ist_ein_pre.html>. Figure 2. Map of Valposchiavo, created by Judith Schäfernolte. 38 Paul Froning, Rike Stotten et al., 2014; Luminati and Rinallo, 2021). In 2015 the local tourism board Turismo Valposchiavo, in collaboration with agri-food associations, launched the territorial brand 100% Valposchiavo. This initiative, with various dimensions, focuses on revalorizing regional, traditional, and typical products from Valposchiavo through a certification scheme (Howald, 2015). In addition to these practical initiatives, local actors affiliated with an educational training and knowledge centre have devised a long-term strategy, called Smart Valley Bio, with the objective of certifying the valley as an organic region (Beti et al., 2014). The strategy aims to transition the agricultural sector to organic production while strengthening smart landscape management (Beti et al., 2014). One core aspect of the strategy is the Community Hypermap, a participatory digital tool designed to raise awareness about the cultural landscape’s value, pointing out specific socio-cultural and historic characteristics (Luminati, 2021). 4.3. Methodological approach To analyze the various facets of the social innovation process, we employ the theoretical framework TerriSI developed by Vercher (2022). This framework highlights “reconfigurations of social relations” as the primary process of TerriSI. Uncovering these reconfigurations requires a qualitative methodology. Therefore we reanalyzed the comprehensive data obtained for the territorial organization of organic regions. Initially a document analysis (Bowen, 2009) involved the examination of publicly available video interviews (Bandtel, 2015) produced with local and external experts during the scientific “Forum ‒ Origin, Diversity, and Territories” on the theme “Breakdown and rebound of territorialized food systems”2. Transcripts were provided by the forum. As a follow-up step in our research methodology, we undertook a secondary analysis of qualitative data (Heaton, 2008; Ruggiano and Perry, 2019). This involved the analysis of an interview transcript conducted with an expert in the context of another research project (Stettler, 2021). Because of challenges in contacting this individual and an alignment 2 The forum Origin, Diversity and Territories is an international scientific platform on the interactions between cultural and biologi-cal diversities and the sustainable territorial valorization of products and services whose quality is linked to their origin. The videos were recorded by scientists of the Forum during the event held on 13-15 October 2021, in Valposchiavo Switzerland. More information: https://origin-for-sustain- ability.org/en/page-daccueil-en/. Videos are publicly available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=runP_q9rIYk&list=PLhCbJMRU6m EeEbiZ8vll9f2eFvN2YJvuA&index=8 of research objectives, we opted to reuse the existing qualitative material, emphasizing efficiency in existing resources and research funding (Heaton, 2008). Building on this explorative groundwork, we conducted indepth, problem-centred interviews (Bogner et al., 2009) with five experts in January 2023, supplemented by one expert interview online. Additionally, brief informal interviews with stakeholders, such as bakers, a pasta producer, restaurants, hotels, and farmers, were documented in protocols (Gray and Jensen, 2022) for subsequent evaluation (see Appendix). All interview transcripts were anonymized by the authors, however, for experts representing public bodies their function was not anonymized. The data obtained from the video interviews, the existing interview, and self-conducted interviews underwent a descriptive evaluation through qualitative content analysis according to Mayring (2015). The coding process, facilitated by the software MAXQDA, had previously been executed for the initial study in Valposchiavo (Stotten and Froning, 2023). For this article’s specific focus on social innovation, we extracted codes from the existing dataset that deal with social innovation aspects. Employing the TerriSI framework with specific focus on the process of “reconfiguration of social relations” (Figure 1), we applied these codes to the framework for further interpretation. 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In the following section we present and discuss our results within the framework of TerriSI as suggested by Vercher (2022) (Section 3, Figure 3). The individual subsections below explore the pivotal elements of the TerriSI framework. 5.1. Context, needs & opportunities of the territory As a peripheral and remote mountain valley, Valposchiavo is facing demographic changes, such as an aging population, youth outmigration by young people, and diverse socio-economic challenges. This, coupled with the general decline in mountain agriculture (MacDonald et al., 2000; Semadeni et al., 1994), highlights the need to rejuvenate the local agri-food system. Despite strong social ties, demographic changes and outmigration has led to decreased farming activities and a lack of local collaborative agri-food supply chains (Semadeni et al., 1994; Howald, 2015). In addition, Valposchiavo possesses unique characteristics that can serve as opportunities for innovative agri-food initiatives. The 39 Shaping territorial agri-food systems through social innovations: The example of Valposchiavo, Switzerland local population’s strong ties to the cultural landscape, marked by diverse farming activities and aesthetic landscape patterns (Schirpke et al., 2019), presents potential for territorial innovation. The rich intercultural exchange in Valposchiavo is evident in traditional agri-food products, influenced by historic relations with neighbouring Valtellina, Italy. Examples include the traditional pasta dish Pizzocheri, or the Valposchiavo cheese, showcasing the historic and territorial value attributed to local agri-food products. Another opportunity for territorial innovations lies in Valposchiavo’s cultural heritage, exemplified by UNESCO World Heritage certification of the Bernina train line in 2008 (Pola, 2020), or the restoration of traditional farming systems on terraced drystone walls. Ongoing migration from Valposchiavo for work or education, coupled with strong social ties, leads to some individuals returning to the valley (Gracheva et al., 2019; Bausch, 2014). Returnees bring external knowledge, fostering social innovation (Florida, 2002; Bausch, 2014), exemplified by key contributors shaping the development of 100% Valposchiavo. The high organic farming rate, exceeding 90% in 2022, initiated by Bio- Pioneers 40 years ago, presents a significant opportunity for territorial innovation in the agri-food sector (Darnhofer, 2005). 5.2. Triggers In response to identified needs and opportunities, the TerriSI (Figure 3) in Valposchiavo’s agri-food system is encapsulated in the initiative known as 100% Valposchiavo as illustrated in Figure 3 and detailed by Stettler and Mayer (2023). The impetus for this innovation can be traced by to a 2004/2005 study on local organic agriculture, which revealed a notably high percentage of organic farms. This study inspired efforts to increase the prevalence of organic farming and products while enhancing added value within the valley. In 2012 the establishment of an Agricultural Compensation Fund Group marked a deliberate move by local actors to strengthen the agri-food sector on a territorial level. Financial support from the local hydropower company played an important role for the later development process. The collective decision to pursue an integrated and territorial approach involving various actors and sectors, rather than a mere compensation payment, can be understood as a trigger within the TerriSI framework (Figure 3). This initiative, in collaboration with experienced local actors in regional development, evolved into the PRE 100% (bio) Valposchiavo proposal. Simultaneously, a new external tourism director in Valposchiavo Figure 3. TerriSI process of the 100% Valposchiavo, following Vercher 2022, created by the authors. 40 Paul Froning, Rike Stotten championed an integrated tourism model, fostering close collaboration between local agri-food system actors and tourism. Farmers’ cooperatives, together with the new tourism board, created the territorial brand 100% Valposchiavo to revalorize agri-food products from the valley and promote local added value. 5.3. Reconfiguration of social relations The aspects elucidated in the preceding subsections serve as the foundation for reshaping social relations, central element of the TerriSI framework (cf. Section 3, Figures 2 and 3). Diverse actors actively contribute to the development of the TerriSI 100% Valposchiavo by initiating three key processes to reshape social relations. First, they establish innovative internal as well as external networks and collaborations within the territorial agri-food system. Second, their efforts concentrate on fostering collective attitudes and values. Third, they devise new coordination mechanisms and broader territorial development structures. The subsequent sections examine and discuss these three aspects in detail. 5.4. Internal and external networks Reconfigured networks form a crucial part within the process of social innovations (Vercher, 2022). Fig. 4 shows the network of important actors and initiatives, following the network configuration by Vercher 2022 (p. 11). In the territorial agri-food system diverse actors, spanning producers, the hospitality trade, accommodation services, industry, regional development, and politics (Figure 4) are shaping processes around 100% Valposchiavo, the PRE or the Smart Valley Bio strategy. Instead of a single closed network, multiple internal and external networks exist, characterized by loose and overlapping connections (Figure 4). In addition, three key actors significantly shape the development process of the TerriSI 100% Valposchiavo (also Stotten and Froning, 2023). First, a publicly funded institution, established in the 1990s as an educational training centre, especially in ICT, has evolved into a local hub for initiating and managing regional development projects. Serving as a central point where various projects are initiated, this centre links actors within and outside the territory and plays an innovative role (Vercher, 2022) in the overall process. Second, the local tourism entity Turismo Valposchiavo actively shapes and promotes the TerriSI, owning the territorial brand 100% Valposchiavo and overseeing the marketing concept of the PRE. This direct connection of tourism with the agri-food system aligns with sustainable regional development (Kauppila et al., 2009). Third, the coordinator of the PRE 100% (bio) Valposchiavo takes charge of project implementation by fostering collaboration along the supply chains and consulting Figure 4. Network of actors within the TerriSI 100% Valposchiavo, configuration by Vercher 2022, created by the authors.