Transformative Change in Telecoupled Agrofood Systems for Biodiversity and Equity

Project Information

TC4BE

Grant agreement ID: 101082057

DOI

10.3030/101082057

EC signature date 19 October 2022

Start date 1 December 2022

End date 31 May 2027

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 2 162 553,75

EU contribution

€ 2 156 303,25

Coordinated by

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TC4BE (Transformative Change in Telecoupled Agrofood Systems for Biodiversity and Equity)

Reporting period: 2024-06-01 to 2025-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Demand for agricultural commodities from consumers in the European Union is driving land use change in biodiversity-rich countries in the global South, leading to major biodiversity losses. EU trade is increasingly ‘telecoupled’ via global value chains creating and exacerbating inequities between different stakeholders, which have extensive socioeconomic and environmental impacts which are EU policy priorities. Transformative change pathways are needed for safe and just transitions; but are contested, with plural perspectives on what constitutes transformative change for telecoupled landscapes and systems, and how to achieve it. Calls are increasing for systemic levers to change, but barriers to action are significant. The Transformative Change for Biodiversity and Equity (TCforBE) project uses transdisciplinary research to co-generate transformative change pathways for telecoupled agrofood systems. We engage with diverse stakeholders and explore plural perspectives within the European Union and Cameroon, Colombia, and Kenya, including EU and national policymakers and Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The project aims to strengthen stakeholder capacity on transformative change pathways leading to enhanced biodiversity and equity outcomes

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work packages address cross-cutting outcomes, arranged according to scale of interest, with main achievements listed from December 2022 to 31 May 2024.

WP1 Understanding & modelling transformative change pathways in telecoupled systems for biodiversity &nd equity
(T1.1) outputs (D2.1) of papers Prudholme et al 2024 and Garcia-Vega et al 2024, report (D2.1) on Biodiversa scenario and model. (T1.2) ongoing development of scenarios (M1) and (T1.3)

WP2 Map, characterise and assess consumer country transformative governance innovations for biodiversity & equity
(T2.1) Report (D2.1) conference presentation (Ingram & Behagel 2024), article (Santika et al 2024), workshop and report (Meijaard, Virah-Sawmy et al. 2024), article in progress (Benitez Kanter, Ingenbleek et al. 2024).
(T2.2) started analysis of trade, corporate governance, legal strategies, and development cooperation innovations resulting in papers (Santika et al, 2024, Banwell & Nelson 2024). Delayed deliverable to month 36. Exploring trade and corporate governance strategies via cocoa value chain “serious game” (D2.2 report)
(T2.3): Started state of the art analysis. Delayed deliverable to month 36.
(T2.4) Started outlining citizen driven collective action, delayed to month 36.

WP3 Identification, assessment and development of transformative investment and finance levers for biodiversity & equity
(T3.1) Working on identification, assessment and development of transformative investment and finance levers (D3.1) resulting in conference presentations (Öhlinger & Lehner 2024, Harrer & Lehner 2024), book chapters and articles (Harrer et al 2023, Pichlmayr & Lehner 2023, Harrer & Lehner 2024) and Principles for Responsible Investment assessment dataset.

WP4 Analysis of national producer country transformative pathways for biodiversity & equity
(T4.1) Analysed pathways for biodiversity, drivers and impacts of commodity production and trade, output report (D4.1). Delayed to month 15 given risks, now using two methods to overcome data deficiencies.
(T4.2) Started to assess impacts in producer countries.

WP5 Co-generate transformative change pathways for Innovation landscapes for positive biodiversity & equity outcomes
(T5.1) selected six Landscapes for case studies, stakeholder identification and engagement (M5). Outputs: stakeholder analysis guidance and stakeholder list (M5). Held Q Methodology training. Guidance on Imaginaries methodology (D5.1) Conducted imaginaries (D5.1).
(T5.2) Produced Guidance on transdisciplinarity, co-production, participatory action research, multi-stakeholder social learning (additional D5.2 & 6.1). Revised budget, landscape cases and deadline because of risks. Started arts-based methods for social learning in Cameroon (D5.2 Social learning methodology).
(T5.3) Started design of case studies and mapping companies, four Masters theses. Delayed D5.5 to month 40.

WP6 Synthesise evidence and build global, regional and landscape learning to foster social learning on TC for biodiversity & equity at scale
(T6.1) producing Guidance on transdisciplinarity, co-Production, participatory action research, multi-stakeholder social learning (additional deliverable D5.1 & 6.1).
Developed paper (Nelson et al 2024) on concepts, shared insights in EU Cluster meetings, workshops and conferences (additional deliverables), book (Hermans et al 2023) on concepts and methods, Glossary of transdisciplinary terms (extra deliverable D7.7).
(T6.2) Developed ToR and contract with Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) for dialogues and digital learning platform (T6.3)

WP7 Management, Dissemination & Communication
(T7.1) Coordination guided by project manual (D7.1) meetings online and in person.
(T7.2) Data Management Plans (D7.2 D7.8) produced. (T7.3) (M6) and updated (minor revision) (M18, D7.8).
(T7.4) D&C plan developed, a second revised plan (D&C) (D7.4 ) in preparation.
(T7.5) Tools for MAC & DEC developed. Glossary of transdisciplinary terms (extra deliverable D7.7). TC4BE used as a case on transdisciplinary transformative sustainability governance (Metze, Espejo et al. 2024) and by InForest project.
EU clustering activities (D7.13 and D7.14) included participating in events, meetings exchanging project and stakeholder information, cases, concepts and methodologies). 

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Scientific results
1. New knowledge - Scenarios & modelling impacts of telecoupled EU agro-food systems on biodiversity and equity (D1.1) Transformative change pathways mapped, characterised and analysed (D2.1) Land use change drivers relating to telecoupled agrofood systems, and threatend biodiversity hotspots in Cameroon, Colombia and Kenya identified (D4.1).
2. Strengthening capital - Network of international researchers engaging in transdisciplinary research (via Biodiversity cluster) and students (3 PhD candidates, 3 post docs, 8 MScs)
3. Fostering knowledge diffusion - on transformative change pathways for landscape approaches co-generated, shared & disseminated via conferences, scientific articles and exchanges.
Societal results:
4.Addressing EU policy priorities and global challenges - through research activities
5. Delivering benefits and impact - through research in EU, Kenya, Cameroon, Colombia
Economic results:
7. Generating innovation-based growth - Transformative sustainable finance models designed and shared.

TCforBE project Inoovation landscapes

TCforBE project overview

TCforBE countries and landscapes map