The last 20 years have witnessed an increase in initiatives suggesting shortening the
food supply chain with the aim to reconnect producers, consumers and territories.
These short food supply chain initiatives (SFSC) have progressively gained scientists,
decision makers and media attention for the tangible and more sustainable solutions
they suggest.
Although studies have shown that SFSC held great transformative potential, they would
often occupy a marginal place in the market, limited to local scale. Thereby,
considering the urgent need to transform production and consumption patterns toward
sustainability, a key issue is to better understand the process that would effectively
allow SFSC, or other transformative grassroot innovations, to scale up. And, as
importantly, to do it without losing their transformative potential.
In light of this matter, the present dissertation analyzes the scaling strategy chosen by
some SFSC actors in Wallonia (Belgium): an inter-organizational alliance. Following
an in-depth qualitative case-study design, conducted, from 2018 to 2021, through
participative immersion within a collective of SFSC cooperatives, we provide 4 articletype
analysis using successively 4 analytical grids (transition studies, territorial
proximities, actor-network theory, polycentricity and meta-organization).
This thesis reinforces the general understanding of transitions process, especially the
one brought on by social or grassroot innovations. It also underlines the benefit of
“global” alliances between “local” innovations as well as some conditions and
mechanisms that will probably ensure a functional inter-organizational alliance, one
that strengthens transition process without compromising the social and/or
environmental initial ambition. 8. Decent work and economic growth 11. Sustainable cities and communities 12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action 17. Partnerships for the goals