The current western agrifood system is highly successful in providing for human needs. However, the dominant agricultural approach of up-scaling and specialisation is put under pressure by a number of developments in the global landscape. Global developments such as population growth, pollution, soil degradation and climate change, in which agriculture plays a crucial role, make the need for a transition towards a paradigm with a broader range of values evident. Niche initiatives often develop as a reaction to needs not fulfilled by the regime. Therefore, certain niches may have the potential of driving a necessary transition. This research aims to determine if permaculture, being a niche, has this potential. The main question for this research was formulated as follows: How can a production system based on permaculture principles contribute to the agrifood transition? To answer this question, relevant current trends and global developments were used as a basis for developing a future scenario. Empirical qualitative data on permaculture businesses in the Netherlands was gathered as well, of which the results were used for a determination of permaculture’s performance in this future scenario. This was done by comparing a standardised permaculture system with a conventional potato system. As a result of this comparison, the Unique Selling Points of permaculture were identified, which determine the future potential of permaculture.
MULTIFILE
De lunchlezing bestaat uit twee gedeeltes. In het eerste gedeelte zal Dirk ingaan op inzichten uit de literatuurstudie naar de gebruikerskant van Product Service Systemen (PSS) en state-of-the-art ontwerpaanpakken om milieu-impact uit dit gebruik te verkleinen. In het tweede gedeelte wordt ingegaan op de eerste inzichten uit de Case Study met en bij The Student Hotel. In deze veldstudie onderzoeken wij hoe het fiets-deelsysteem (daaronder verstaan wij de fiets zelf, de fietsenstalling en de uitleen-app) anders ontworpen kan worden, zodat gebruikers zorgvuldiger met de fietsen omgaan. Gewenste gevolgen zijn minder milieu-impact uit gebruik, lagere kosten en een positievere gebruikerservaring. Er is tussendoor en aan het einde van de lezing ruimte om vragen te stellen via de chat.
