Deliberating justice in food systems transformation pathways: a transdisciplinary approach applied in Finland
Abstract The need for transformation in food systems is acknowledged broadly. Persisting lock-ins and systemic interactions require research going beyond disciplinary approaches. Transdisciplinary research has the explicit aim to contribute to solving complex sustainability problems. In this article, we present a transdisciplinary framework for incorporating justice considerations as a normative compass into the deliberation of transformation pathways, and apply it to the context of the Finnish food system. The results show how justice can act as a boundary object that brings different disciplines and food system actors together to create a shared language for food systems transformation. At the same time, it makes visible conflicting interests that require ethical reflection by researchers and other societal actors. In future, a well-balanced mix of short- and long-term actions is required to co-produce transformative change while extending the group of engaged actors to address deeper vulnerabilities. This invites transformative research to develop novel procedural and methodological approaches for ethical reflection.
Authors
- Ellen Huan‐Niemi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1366-2324)
- Merja Saarinen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4375-7682)
- Anu Lahteenmäki‐Uutela (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3230-3869)
- Kaisa Karttunen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6730-8526)
- Anni Turunen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3704-2955)
- Antti Puupponen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9316-9061)
- Teea Kortetmäki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1682-8462)
- Laura Paalanen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2738-2654)
- Marjaana Toivonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9215-8643)
- Annika Lonkila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2637-396X)
- Marja Knuuttila
- Luciene Burlandy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0875-6374)
- Mari Heikkinen
- Heli Tapanainen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8402-2897)
- Laura Sares‐Jäske (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-9302)
- Xavier Irz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5659-5291)
- Tommi Härkänen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4577-1808)
- Theresa Tribaldos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9050-8451)
- Riikka Aro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3028-844X)
- Henri Virkkunen
- Ari Paloviita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8170-9449)
- Suvi Huttunen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8484-9014)
- Minna Kaljonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8067-2402)
- Venla Kyttä (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3700-5959)
- Heikki Lehtonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1543-1594)
- Renato S. Maluf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6565-7148)
- Henrik Wejberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3176-2289)
- Jani Salminen
- Hannu Savolainen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2829-4883)
- Jyrki Niemi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3227-0518)
- Marjatta Selänniemi
Institutions
- University of Bern (CH)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
- Finnish Environment Institute (FI)
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (FI)
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (FI)
- Central Finland Health Care District (FI)
- University of Jyväskylä (FI)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Environmental Research Food Systems
- Published
- 2025-11-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1088/2976-601x/ae1dfa
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Agriculture, Land Use, Rural Development
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.83