Scaling Social Innovations for Transformative Change: Insights from Scaling Pathways of Alternative Food Networks

This paper studies how Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) in Wallonia, Belgium, contribute to transformative changes in agri-food systems through different scaling strategies. A literature review explores the different scaling pathways of social innovations and contextualizes AFNs as hybrid governance initiatives with the potential to drive food system transformation. Using a case study approach in five Walloon cities and at the regional level, data was collected through interviews and observations of different initiatives. The research recognises four types of scaling—scaling out, up, deep, and through—observed across the cases. These scaling pathways are analysed to understand their interactions and how they can contribute to the transition of our current food systems. The study also provides a methodological contribution with the operationalization of the scaling concepts, offering tools to identify and analyse these processes in empirical cases. By connecting these processes to food policies, it highlights how AFNs can shape participatory democratic processes for sustainable governance and influence policies, offering insights on sustainable urban food strategies. Findings highlight how governance tensions within AFNs, stemming from their hybrid nature, are navigated to foster cross-sector collaboration, democratize food strategies, and shape food policies. These observations show how AFNs amplify their transformative impact by scaling in different ways, with alternative food governance structures, such as food policy councils or regional collaborations. This work contributes to discussions on food transition governance and the role of local food initiatives in influencing inclusive and sustainable food policies, and offers theoretical, empirical, and practical insights into scaling social innovations.