Motivating change agents : influences of visioning on human agency for food system transformation

Abstract

Swift transformation of the food system towards sustainability is important to avoid further transgression of the planetary boundaries. Food system transformation requires altering the fundamental determinants of the system. Human agency plays a vital role in this process. Previous research alludes to the potential of Future Oriented Methodologies (FOM’s) to influence human agency. This case study explores the influence of the FOM visioning on human agency to gain a better understanding of the relation between FOM’s and human agency. To this end is, based on Banduras’ agentic perspective on Social Cognitive Theory and Ryan and Deci’s Self-Determination Theory, the concept human agency unravelled into the property’s forethought, self-reflectiveness, and self-reactiveness. In relation to forethought the findings of this research indicate that visioning is a means to exercise forethought and inspire individual and collective visions and action plans. Furthermore, through the visioning methodology, participants contributed from their personal perspectives in creating a diverse collection of ideas. The subsequent dialogues about the ideas can invite to self-reflection. Regarding self-reactiveness the research has found that visioning can influence both the magnitude as well as the kind of motivation of participants to act and result in action. Consequently, the overall conclusion is that the used visioning methodology has potential to foster human agency for food system transformation. This was however an explorative research. More comprehensive research is required to draw definite conclusions regarding human agency and enable refinement the methodology visioning for the purpose of fostering human agency.