Just wheat transitions?: working toward constructive structural changes in wheat production

How do we make agricultural practice more sustainable? One way to examine the drivers and barriers to transitions within agriculture is through the sustainability transitions framework. However, this approach has been criticised for not adequately engaging with the lessons of food justice. To correct this deficiency, we suggest the concept, just transitions. Our argument is informed by honing in on the lived experiences of organic and conventional wheat farmers, especially their challenges and opportunities in transitioning to organic wheat production. Our findings reflect tensions, contradictions, and opportunities in environmental ethics, policies, infrastructure, and socio-economic perspectives and positions. The approach taken reflects a structural-constructivist perspective. Examining structural level proposals, such as the Green New Deal and the Good Food Purchasing Program, our findings suggest more work needs to be done to adequately include rural farmer perspectives, particularly when it comes to the construction of frames around what good farming looks like. Specifically, by not including the lived experiences of farmers into these transitions, policymakers and other advocates may struggle to adequately integrate plans that adequately reflect 1) varying regional biophysical characteristics, farmer practices, and sustainability goals; 2) interactions that contribute to tradeoffs within and between both policies and advocacy; 3) the infrastructural path-dependency of farm operations; 4) and the economic and social beliefs, norms, and values which shape what good farming looks and feels like. Until this accomplished, it will be hard to envision a transition considered just by all stakeholders.

Automated summary

The study suggests incorporating the concept of "just transitions" to address the challenges and opportunities faced by farmers in transitioning to sustainable agricultural practices. It highlights the need to consider tensions in environmental ethics, policies, infrastructure, and socio-economic factors, while also emphasizing the importance of incorporating lessons from food justice.