Browsing by Author "Doherty, Bob"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    AgriFoodPy: a package for modelling food systems
    (The Open Journal, 2024-05-27) Cordero, Juan P; Donkers, Kevin; Harrison, Ian; Bridle, Sarah L; Frankowska, Angelina; Cain, Michelle; Ward, Neil; Frendenburgh, Jez; Pope, Edward; Kluczkovski, Alana; Schmidt, Ximena; Silva, Jacqueline; Reynolds, Christian; Denby, Katherine; Doherty, Bob; Jones, Aled
    AgriFoodPy is an open-source Python package for processing, simulation, and modeling of agrifood datasets and systems. By employing xarray (Hoyer & Hamman, 2017) as the primary data structure, AgriFoodPy provides methods to manipulate tabular data by extending xarray functionality via accessor classes. It acts as an accessibility and interoperability layer between data sources and external packages, and also bundles with a library of models for use without any additional requirements. A separate repository, agrifoodpy_data, is actively maintained in parallel to provide access to local and global agrifood datasets, including geospatial land use and classification data (Morton, 2022), food supply (FAO, 2023), life cycle assessment (Poore & Nemecek, 2018), and population data (United Nations, 2022). The AgriFoodPy framework is region-agnostic and provides facilities to model and simulate processes and intervention impacts regardless of their geographic origin.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Reconciling social enterprise: beyond the paradox perspective
    (Emerald, 2022-01-11) White, Gareth R. T.; Samuel, Anthony; Peattie, Ken; Doherty, Bob
    Purpose The paper aims to critically review the increasingly taken-for-granted view of social enterprise (SE) as inherently paradoxical and tackles the research question as follows: are the tensions experienced by SE and social entrepreneurs (SEnt) actually paradoxical and if not, what are the implications for theory and practice? Design/methodology/approach A paradox theory (PT) approach has been utilized to explore the implications, validity and helpfulness of the paradox perspective in understanding and managing the tensions that are inherent in SE. Findings Conceptualizing the primary tension of doing social good through commercial activity as a paradox is argued to be a limiting misnomer that conspires to reify and perpetuate the tensions that SE and SEnt have to manage. Drawing upon PT, the findings of the paper reconceptualize these tensions as myths, dilemmas and dialectics, which are subsequently used to develop a more complete ontological framework of the challenges that arise in SE and for SEnt. Practical implications Reconceptualizing the “inherent paradoxes” of SE as either dilemmas or dialectics affords a means of pursuing their successful resolution. Consequently, this view alleviates much of the pressure that SE managers and SEnt may feel in needing to pursue commercial goals alongside social goals. Originality/value The work presents new theoretical insights to challenge the dominant view of SE as inherently paradoxical.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The Regenerative Lens: a conceptual framework for regenerative social-ecological systems
    (Elsevier, 2023-07-21) Buckton, Sam J.; Fazey, Ioan; Sharpe, Bill; Om, Eugyen Suzanne; Doherty, Bob; Ball, Peter; Denby, Katherine; Bryant, Maria; Lait, Rebecca; Bridle, Sarah; Cain, Michelle; Carmen, Esther; Collins, Lisa; Nixon, Nicola; Yap, Christopher; Connolly, Annie; Fletcher, Ben; Frankowska, Angelina; Gardner, Grace; James, Anthonia; Kendrick, Ian; Kluczkovski, Alana; Mair, Simon; Morris, Belinda; Sinclair, Maddie
    Societies must transform their dynamics to support the flourishing of life. There is increasing interest in regeneration and regenerative practice as a solution, but also limited cohered understanding of what constitutes regenerative systems at social-ecological scales. In this perspective we present a conceptual, cross-disciplinary, and action-oriented regenerative systems framework, the Regenerative Lens, informed by a wide literature review. The framework emphasizes that regenerative systems maintain positive reinforcing cycles of wellbeing within and beyond themselves, especially between humans and wider nature, such that “life begets life.” We identify five key qualities needed in systems to encourage such dynamics: an ecological worldview embodied in human action; mutualism; high diversity; agency for humans and non-humans to act regeneratively; and continuous reflexivity. We apply the Lens to an envisioned future food system to illustrate its utility as a reflexive tool and for stretching ambition. We hope that the conceptual clarity provided here will aid the necessary acceleration of learning and action toward regenerative systems.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Transformations to regenerative food systems - an outline of the FixOurFood project
    (Wiley, 2021-12-12) Doherty, Bob; Bryant, Maria; Denby, Katherine; Fazey, Ioan; Bridle, Sarah; Hawkes, Corinna; Cain, Michelle; Banwart, Steven; Collins, Lisa; Pickett, Kate; Allen, Myles R.; Ball, Peter; Gardner, Grace; Carmen, Esther; Sinclair, Maddie; Kluczkovski, Alana; Ehgartner, Ulrike; Morris, Belinda; James, Anthonia; Yap, Christopher; Om, Eugyen Suzanne; Connolly, Annie
    This paper provides an outline of a new interdisciplinary project called FixOurFood, funded through UKRI’s ‘Transforming UK food systems’ programme. FixOurFood aims to transform the Yorkshire food system to a regenerative food system and will work to answer two main questions: (1) What do regenerative food systems look like? (2) How can transformations be enabled so that we can achieve a regenerative food system? To answer these questions, FixOurFood will work with diverse stakeholders to change the Yorkshire food system and use the learning to inform change efforts in other parts of the UK and beyond. Our work will focus on shifting trajectories towards regenerative dynamics in three inter-related systems of: healthy eating for young children, hybrid food economies and regenerative farming. We do this by a set of action-orientated interventions in schools and the food economy, metrics, policies and deliverables that can be applied in Yorkshire and across the UK. This article introduces the FixOurFood project and concludes by assessing the potential impact of these interventions and the importance we attach to working with stakeholders in government, business, third sector and civil society.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Transformative action towards regenerative food systems: a large-scale case study
    (PLOS (Public Library of Science), 2024-11-21) Buckton, Sam J.; Fazey, Ioan; Doherty, Bob; Bryant, Maria; Banwart, Steven A.; Carmen, Esther; Connolly, Annie; Denby, Katherine; Kendrick, Ian; Sharpe, Bill; Wade, Ruth N.; Ball, Peter; Bridle, Sarah; Gardner, Grace; James, Anthonia; Morris, Belinda; Stewart, Sophie; Bremner, Myles; Chapman, Pippa J.; Cordero, Juan Pablo; Geertsema, Henk; Nixon, Nicola; Om, Eugyen Suzanne; Sinclair, Maddie; Thornton, Jan; Yap, Christopher; Arnott, Dave; Cain, Michelle; Ehgartner, Ulrike; Fletcher, Ben; Garry, Jack; Hawkes, Corinna; Kluczkovski, Alana; Lait, Rebecca; Lovett, Adrian; Pickett, Kate E.; Reed, Melanie; Atkinson, Nathan; Black, Fiona; Blakeston, Mark; Burton, Wendy; Defeyter, Margaret Anne; Duncan, Naomi; Eastwood, Glynn; Everson, Ruth; Frankowska, Angelina; Frenneux, Tim; Gledhill, Dave; Goodwin, Sian; Holden, Harry; Ingle, Helen; Kane, Allison; Newman, Rebecca; Parry, Christine; Robertshaw, Victoria; Scrope, Tom; Sellstrom, Phillippa; Slater, Stephanie; Smith, Kim; Stacey, Ruth; Stott, Gary; Trickett, Alastair; Wilson, Jessica; Ashardiono, Fitrio
    We urgently need to foster regenerative food systems that mutually reinforce human and ecological health. However, we have limited understanding of the action pathways that could encourage the emergence of such systems. Here we report on an extensive Three Horizons futures process, conducted with diverse participation from food system researchers and practitioners, to identify core domains of action for transforming the food system of Yorkshire, UK, towards a regenerative future. After establishing the contrast between the current degenerative and envisioned future regenerative food system, six core action domains were identified that require support to enable transformation: 1) enhancing supply chain connectivity and innovation to support diverse hybrid business ecosystems; 2) scaling environmentally beneficial and regenerative farming; 3) empowering citizens to reshape food demand; 4) providing trusted, accessible knowledge support for standards and incentives; 5) supporting schools and young people as drivers of long-term change; and 6) ensuring coordination and mutual support across domains. Our results highlight the importance of efforts to cohere synergic action, ambitious visioning, and addressing issues of power. Overall, our study sets an ambitious standard for co-developing action priorities to encourage regenerative futures.