A serious games methodology to test solutions for regional food systems inequities

How do we test solutions for greater social sustainability in food systems when those alternatives do not yet exist? How do we create solutions that account for the entire food system? This paper presents an innovative research method, the serious game, and its application for researching propositions that are systems-wide, integrating consumer equity and viable small farming in the Northeastern United States. It is presented as an example for other researchers interested in applied, policy-relevant research We detail our mixed-methods, stakeholder-informed process of developing a game that tests policy interventions for increasing the accessebility of small-farm produce, which arose from exploratory qualitative data collection as an example of how to use this method. We describe the resulting “Race Against Rot” game and present an example of results generated by game play. Finally, we discuss the translational potential of using serious games methodology to represent food systems and test real-world solutions to pressing concerns.