MSc thesis presentation by Henrieke te Winkel: Conflicting frames in debates about future sustainability of the Dutch food system

You are hereby cordially invited to the MSc thesis presentation of Henrieke te Winkel entitled “We have to change, no matter what” - Conflicting frames in debates about the future sustainability of the Dutch food system.

Supervisor: Jeroen Candel
Co-examinor: Otto Hospes
Date and time: Thursday, 7 July, 10.30 h
Location: room 3011, Leeuwenborch

Abstract

“We have to change, no matter what” - Conflicting frames in debates about the future sustainability of the Dutch food system

There is a growing concern about the future of the food and agriculture sector, which is why the world is asking for a transition towards a sustainable food system. However, there are currently many debates about what a sustainable food systems should look like. Sustainability is a concept that can have many different meanings attached to it, depending on whom you ask. In this research, framing theory is used to analyse these different meanings that are given to sustainability. I am showing what the conflicting frames look like in two debates about sustainable food systems in the Dutch agricultural sector. In the case about poultry production as well as the case about local versus global food production, several frames can be found. For the transition towards a sustainable food system, there are different ways of dealing with these different frames surrounding sustainability. Because of the complexity of the problems surrounding sustainability, and the uncertainty about the consequences of particular policy decisions, this thesis is recommending a reflexive governance approach with clumsy policy solutions.