Why do some Participatory Guarantee Systems emerge, become effective, and are sustained over time, while others fail? An application of the Ostrom social-ecological system framework

Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) can play an important role in territorial re-embedding of agri-food sys-tems into their Social-Ecological Systems (SES), thereby stimulating multifunctionality of agriculture and the diversification of the production system. This represents an opportunity to promote endogenous rural devel-opment, employment and the viability of rural communities, as well as to support family agriculture, food sovereignty, and food security. However, the underlying biophysical, social, and economic conditions of the SES that affect the likelihood of building these institutions through collective action have hardly been studied. In order to explore this, we used the conceptual framework of SES designed by Elinor Ostrom to identify the conditions under which PGS, and the collective action that created them, emerge, become effective, and are sustained over time. This information may help land managers, policy makers, and planners to design policies that facilitate the building of effective and sustainable PGS over time.

Automated summary

Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) can contribute to the integration of agri-food systems into their Social-Ecological Systems (SES), promoting agricultural multifunctionality and diversification. This supports rural development, employment, family agriculture, food sovereignty, and food security. The biophysical, social, and economic conditions influencing the establishment of PGS through collective action have been under-studied. Applying Elinor Ostrom's SES framework helps to identify the conditions for effective and sustainable PGS.