Socio-ecological nutrition transformation
Research on complex nutrition-related systems as well as systemic and participatory pathways for designing transformation processes
The complexity of problems, possible conflicts of interest and power asymmetries as well as the implementation of knowledge in practice are central challenges for solving problems in the field of nutrition. Therefore, research approaches are needed that enable a multi-perspective and systemic analysis of complex problems, their causes and options for change. Therefore, the research area "Socio-ecological nutrition transformation" uses systems science and transdisciplinary approaches that offer great potential, especially when combined. The research area has a dual focus: research on complex nutrition-related systems as well as systemic and transdisciplinary research on effective starting points and practicable pathways for designing transformation processes that take complexity into account.
Tools of systems science allow considering numerous and diverse factors of a problem in their dynamic interplay and showing the complex phenomenon as a whole. Thus, e. g. promising starting points for transformation processes can be identified from a systems perspective. Transdisciplinary approaches support the development of viable solutions and provide the basis for appropriate action. For this, numerous actors contribute their views of the problem and their knowledge to the research process and bring them together. The perspectives of scientists from various disciplines, actors from civil society, politics and economy, as well as of people who are directly affected or work with those affected are included.
An important task of the research area is to use the potentials of systems science and transdisciplinarity to initiate and support transformation processes in the field of nutrition in line with sustainable development together with other research areas of the Department of Nutritional Behaviour (see also "Future-oriented nutritional behaviour").