Leverage points for resilience: Introducing the pyramid framework for strategic adaptation planning and assessment

Area of Science:

• Food systems analysis
• Sustainability science
• Resilience studies

Background:

• Limited research exists on food system transformation approaches.
• Understanding resilience capacities (coping, adaptive, transformative) is crucial for sustainability.
• Leverage points offer insights into systemic change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and apply a pyramid framework integrating leverage points and resilience capacities.
• To identify root causes and effective entry points for food system resilience.
• To support strategic adaptation planning and policy evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research methods were employed.
• A novel pyramid framework was developed and applied.
• The framework was tested on a food system in western Nepal.

Main Results:

• Eleven leverage points were identified within the Nepalese food system.
• Deep leverage points were found to enhance transformative capacity.
• Shallow leverage points supported coping and adaptive capacities.

Conclusions:

• The pyramid framework effectively balances immediate and long-term resilience strategies.
• This integrated approach minimizes maladaptation risks in food systems.
• The framework is a valuable tool for planning and evaluating resilience interventions.