Resilience or how do we enable agricultural systems to ride the waves of unexpected change?

As the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic reminds us, change is not only of the planned kind, but often triggered by sudden and unexpected events. The impact of such an event on agricultural systems is unpredictable and can be far reaching. Thus, rather than focusing our research efforts only on increasing the productivity and efficiency of agricultural systems, we may also need to pay attention to what enables them to change and adapt. One approach is to give more attention to relations and processes in a system. This applies to relations within agricultural systems, and between the system and its context; but also to relations between scientific disciplines and between researchers and practitioners. Assessing the fixities and dynamics these relations promote, may enable us to contribute making agricultural systems better able to navigate change processes, may be even enable them to take advantage of openings created by unexpected events.

Automated summary

Change can be unplanned and unpredictable, affecting agricultural systems in unforeseen ways. By focusing on the relationships and processes within and around agricultural systems, we can help them better adapt and navigate through change.