Infrastructuring Sustainable Food Futures : A Case Study In Collaborative Innovation For Circular Seafood

Tsekleves, Emmanuel and Pollastri, Serena (2024) Infrastructuring Sustainable Food Futures : A Case Study In Collaborative Innovation For Circular Seafood. In: DRS2024: Research Papers :. DRS2024 Boston: Design Research Society Conference 2024 . Design Research Society, USA. ISBN 9781912294626

Abstract

Transitioning to a circular economy requires transforming practices across the Ready-to-cook product value chains through shared knowledge. However, generalised solutions rarely succeed, but must be tailored to each context. This study explores using participatory design-informed “infrastructuring” to collaboratively develop novel methods tailored to stakeholders’ existing practices. The Seafood AGE project serves as a case study. We developed two remote, distributed facilitation methods using accessible digital platforms. These engage stakeholders in mapping current practices, analysing responses to speculative fish products, and exploring feasibility of prototypical circular approaches. Key findings demonstrate the potential of co-creative infrastructuring to bridge design research and industry. This enables customised transitions aligned with diverse real-world con-texts. This has implications for design researchers seeking to employ participatory methods that enable stakeholders to co-create context-specific knowledge food systems and futures aligned with circular principles.