Work

Digital Innovations for Transformative Food Systems Governance: Conceptualising a COMMONSource test case

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Global food systems face critical challenges in ensuring healthy, affordable, and sustainable food while worsening environmental crises and deepening social inequalities are exacerbated by the growing dominance of profit-driven multinational corporations in food governance. Integrating systems-thinking with digital transformation offers a chance to reshape food system governance, promoting inclusivity, resilience, and efficiency through better resource allocation, policy development, and collaboration. This study conceptualises the COMMONSource governance support structure as it integrates management, technological, and cultural innovations to drive transformative food system governance through a self-learning feedback loop. The COMMONSource integrates and combines eight components: (1) networks, (2) living labs, (3) a youth talent academy, (4) a co-creation platform, (5) a writing office, (6) a playbook office, (7) an IT and blockchain platform, and (8) rollout processes. The COMMONSource will leverage MiCA-compliant blockchain technology, particularly the scalable BSV Blockchain, to enhance transparency, compliance, and efficiency in governance through open participation, incentive structures, and digital tokens, including service and utility tokens, smart contract-based bonds, stock tokens, and NFTs for intellectual property protection and royalties. Finally, a hypothetical EU-wide Food Systems Test-Case is described, articulating how the COMMONSource governance support structure could integrate with real word workflows by leveraging networks like Food 2030, VIV, EARA, and the Sustainable Food System Network for stakeholder collaboration, while utilizing the FOOD 2030 Connected Lab Network and VIV roadshow to crowdsource best practices, pilot experimental interventions, and enhance direct funding access. By combining systems thinking, digital transformation, and blockchain innovations, COMMONSource presents a scalable governance model to drive data-driven policy development, better resource allocation, and stakeholder engagement, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and sustainable global food system.

Source: Open Research Europe

DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.19890.1