Technical, Political, and Social Responses II
Sustainability in Food Supply Chains with Blockchain: Evidence from the Netherlands
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Katarina Dordevic
According to “Investing in Global Prospects 2018” from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the future of development cooperation will largely depend on digitalization as innovative technologies offer opportunities for stimulating sustainable and inclusive growth in the face of climate change. In the case of Blockchain technology, development organizations propose novel ways of solving current food system challenges, such as food and nutrition security and inclusive agro-food value chains. Besides investigating the limits of technical features, there is no evidence in the existing literature regarding the potential of the Blockchain technology for social and environmental impact. This study aims to analyze the transformative potential of Blockchain in the field of food supply chain management by uncovering the perceptions of sustainability associated with solutions and services shared with users. Relying on the transition management theory, the paper seeks to answer how Dutch-based blockchain initiatives to influence resource distribution in food supply chains involving smallholder farmers in developing countries. Using a qualitative approach consisting of semi-structured interviews and document analysis, the study identifies several categories of blockchain initiatives based on their potential for impact in food supply chains. Results show that different categories emerge due to the type of software architecture used (public versus private Blockchain) as well as the possibility for new value creation (shorter supply chains). Based on the findings, there is a need for further research regarding the social and environmental impact of blockchain solutions focusing on the specific cases of resource redistribution such as smallholder farmers empowerment.
Exploring Vulnerability and Adaptation Response Relationships in the Context of Coastal Cities in Developing Countries
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Tu Dam Ngoc Le
This study is an exploratory analysis of the relationship between vulnerability and adaptation responses to climate change. The study utilizes analusis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis with the web-based climate adaptation plans of forty-five coastal cities in developing countries as the primary data. Three primary findings emerge from this analysis. (1) A higher recognition of vulnerability does not guarantee translation into a higher number of adaptation responses. (2) Level of exposure to natural hazards is found to have a significant effect on the number of institutional measures planned by cities. (3) City size influences divergently on the vulnerability level and adaptive capacity. While the vulnerability level is not significantly different between groups of city size, the capacity for adaptation is notably different. These findings recommend for (1) an operational framework of vulnerability assessment to ensure the comparison between cities and the comprehensive inclusion of vulnerability dimensions, (2) advocacy for institutional measures in coastal adaptation to address rising exposure, and (3) a proportional resource distribution and assistance to small and large cities based on the adaptation needs that are determined by vulnerability level.
Innovative Indigenous Ecological Knowledge Responses to Climate Change in Agriculture: Lessons from Southern and Central Zambia
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Stephen Chitengi Sakapaji
For decades now, the implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation mechanisms and solutions in the agriculture sector have been embedded in scientific knowledge, sidelining indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) (Belfer et al., 2017). However, it must be noted that these two knowledge bases have for a long time worked hand in hand, and have always benefited from each other. In this paper, I argue that IEK is as important as scientific knowledge in effectively addressing climate change impacts and thus, the integration of the two knowledge bases can be very beneficial in tackling the many challenges emanating from climate change. This paper explores and analyzes effective IEK practices for climate change adaptation and resilience-building in agriculture in Zambia. The goal is to identify which IEK practices are effective for climate change adaptation and resilience-building and can be integrated with scientific knowledge and replicated in similar regions for a more resilience agriculture sector for all. This paper focuses on analyzing Zambia’s agriculture traditional society which involves assessing and examining available literature, field observations and oral history from the local knowledge holders themselves on changes within the environment, past and present environmental catastrophes specifically those related to climate change and the traditionally adaptive mechanisms being utilized. The paper concludes that the integration of effective and innovative IEK practices with scientific knowledge and a possible replication as observed from this case study can be one of the most effective ways for a sustainable adaptive agriculture sector in the face of climate change.
