Building trust, building futures: Knowledge co-production as relationship, design, and process in transdisciplinary science

Abstract

Understanding and modeling the trajectories of change in broad level interactions in food-energy-water systems is incomplete when it is undertaken by researchers in isolation from those who live and work in the systems. For models and outcomes to have validity they need to be subjected to sustained development and iteration with stakeholders. This requires a paradigm shift in our thinking of stakeholder engagement from viewing such engagement as an isolated activity or part of the data collection methods to thinking of engagement as a process of knowledge generation. That process hinges on building relationships and building trust, and also sustaining these as long-term relationships through multiple elements of research design and execution. Using the case-study of a mid-size river basin we demonstrate a co-production of knowledge process for food-energy-water systems. The findings highlight the multiple and different ways in which knowledge co-production can be transacted in food-energy-water systems while also generating solutions to the use and re-use of water, energy, and nutrients at the landscape level.

From Uncertainties to Solutions: A Scenario-Based Framework for an Agriculture Protection Zone in Magic Valley Idaho

“…Stakeholder assumptions and validation of effective solutions for each scenario are germane to a Geodesign framework, and this project demonstrates this informed and iterative ground truthing. In terms of replicability, stakeholder collaboration and engagement are central to envisioning plausibility and potential solution adoption [6,7,54]. The research within this study proves a transferable framework for projects with similar conditions and needs.…”

“…Limitations within the process restrict solutions and systems-level interventions as mechanisms to address negative impacts. Within the Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS) project in Magic Valley, researchers achieved this integration of solutions per each scenario as the interventions reflected stakeholder-defined values and interest [6,7,[22][23][24].…”

“…Regional stakeholders [7] helped define the criteria utilized to model suitability of the APZ policy-intervention within a food-energy-water scenario planning process [6] and the research team developed a method to validate its utility. Stakeholder-defined criteria were put into a suitability analysis within the context of a broader alternative futures analysis [7].…”

“…To further expand possible solutions in the context of the Alternative Futures project, this paper demonstrates a policy-driven solution across food-energy-water (FEWS) scenarios as an example of stakeholder responses to uncertainty [8] and addresses this through stakeholderdriven solutions to protect and conserve agricultural land uses within the rural-urban interface. Within current research, demonstrations of applied solutions to address land use Land 2023, 12, 862 2 of 13 conflicts within the rural urban interface and FEWS networks are seldom demonstrated through scenarios [6]. This research provides an example of embedded solutions through stakeholder-driven guidance for operationalizing this intervention.…”

“…Multiple alternative future possibilities to these externalities necessitate a process designed to incorporate models of future anticipatory scenarios [2], impacts of this change, and responses through a suite of plausible actions which may be implemented by a community [3][4][5]. Scenarios, alternative futures, and solutions for the Magic Valley in southern Idaho, comprising nine agricultural-based counties, have been demonstrated through recent work on 'socio-ecological futures' [6,7]. To further expand possible solutions in the context of the Alternative Futures project, this paper demonstrates a policy-driven solution across food-energy-water (FEWS) scenarios as an example of stakeholder responses to uncertainty [8] and addresses this through stakeholderdriven solutions to protect and conserve agricultural land uses within the rural-urban interface.…”