Reflection on the REWIRE Kickoff

Reflection on the REWIRE Kickoff

At the end of May, a group of over 35 enthusiastic researchers, stakeholders, policymakers, think tanks, NGOs, and others met in Utrecht to kick off the REWIRE project together. During an extensive introduction using typologies, it turned out there were many connectors in the room, as well as movers/shakers, decision-makers, and an idea generator.

What challenges do we typically encounter in collaboration around the food transition? Practically speaking, it turns out that contact persons within organizations often change, or that not enough best practices are shared. Participants expressed a desire to place more emphasis on “doing and experimenting.” Larger systemic problems were also raised, such as internal competition, the question of how to scale up, the fact that different languages are spoken, the lack of analysis of power dynamics and gatekeepers, and that often only one part of the system is being managed.

We also delved a bit deeper into the different work packages of REWIRE: who is doing what, and where? The work packages were immediately able to ask others for input and collaboration. It was remarkable to see how varied the group of participants was, divided between theory and practice or years of experience in the food transition. For example, the coordinator of the Learning Platform and three decisive networkers combined relatively much experience and were eager to share it. Learning from practice has thus been added as an activity to REWIRE.

We also gathered wishes for the Learning Platform. Participants indicated they wanted to know more about behavioral change, to learn from best practices and other platforms and learning networks. Setting up communication channels is important; for example, the desire for a LinkedIn group was expressed.