Facilitating transformative innovations in sustainability education.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Education
• Educational Innovation
• Food Systems

Background:

• Global education shifts towards participatory models, away from top-down approaches.
• Learning organizations and multistakeholder networks are crucial for addressing complex challenges.
• Traditional educational models struggle with 'wicked problems' requiring interdisciplinary solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the NEXTFOOD educational approach as a transformative innovation.
• To explore the development and diffusion of this approach within and between teaching institutions.
• To provide insights into overcoming barriers for scaling educational initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Action research methodology.
• Workshops at annual consortium conferences over three years.
• Facilitation of transformative innovations through a presented action research model.

Main Results:

• Successful transformation requires learning within and across innovation projects in a network.
• The NEXTFOOD approach led to significant changes in mindset, educational practices, and organizational structures.
• Barriers to scaling educational initiatives exist at individual, group, and institutional levels.

Conclusions:

• The NEXTFOOD approach offers a viable model for transitioning agricultural and food education.
• The action research model can support the facilitation of transformative educational innovations.
• Overcoming scaling barriers requires a multi-national, multi-level strategy within consortia.