Transforming the food system through co-production
From cost to sustainability, the food system – or where and how we derive our food – is in desperate need of help. Now a research project co-led by the University of Liverpool has shed light on a research method that’s widely seen as part of the solution.
Professor Charlotte Hardman has co-led a toolkit outlining ‘co-production’ – a collaborative way of working between researchers and non-academics to exchange diverse forms of knowledge in an equal partnership for equal benefits – and its application within research on food systems transformation.
From engaging local secondary school children in a fishing trip and Michelin star cooking, to working with local communities to explore their views on tackling obesity, the toolkit highlights 11 case studies of co-production activities from across six projects within the Transforming UK Food Systems (TUKFS) Strategic Priorities Fund programme.
The toolkit has been developed as a key output of research funded by a ‘Synergy’ grant from the TUKFS programme, in collaboration with Dr Clare Pettinger from the University of Plymouth.
Professor Charlotte Hardman said: “We are delighted to share our online toolkit. We hope that it will support researchers, practitioners, academic institutions, and funders in their implementation of these innovative methodologies as we continue to work together to promote health, sustainability and equity within our food system.”
The case studies in the toolkit illustrate examples of co-produced research in diverse food system settings, with researchers working alongside a range of non-academic partners, including farmers, communities, people with lived experience of food insecurity and obesity, social enterprises, school children, and industry partners.
It also includes a checklist of practical considerations to support researchers, funders and academic institutions engaged in co-producing research for food systems transformation.
The research team has also co-authored a journal article (pending publication) to share key findings from ‘co-production oracle’ workshops and conversations.
Access the toolkit: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/synergy