Farming along desire lines: Collective action and food systems adaptation to climate change

We examine collective action in the food system of the Canadian Maritimes to determine its effect on the resilience and adaptive capacity of food producers, distributors, retailers and governance institutions. Our data suggest that beyond their immediate benefits for their participants, expressions of collective action generate higher-level impacts which often translate into drivers of adaptive capacity. Drawing on a metaphor from urban design, we suggest that collective action should be considered a desire line for food systems adaptation: rather than building adaptation strategies based on top-down design, collective action emerges from farmers' needs and capacities to build financial resilience, enhance human and social capital and strengthen institutional agency within the system. Resume Nous examinons l'action collective dans le systeme alimentaire des provinces maritimes du Canada afin de determiner son effet sur la resilience et la capacite adaptive des producteurs agricoles, des distributeurs, des vendeurs, et des institutions gouvernementales. Les donnees collectees suggerent que, mis a part ses benefices immediats pour les participants, l'action collective genere des impacts secondaires qui se traduisent souvent en elements conducteurs pour la capacite adaptive. Inspires par le design urbain, nous suggerons donc que l'action collective peut agir comme ligne du desir pour l'adaptation des systemes alimentaires. Plutot que de batir des strategies d'adaptation descendantes, l'action collective emerge des besoins des agriculteurs ainsi que de leurs capacites a etablir la resilience financiere, ameliorer le capital humain et social, et renforcer leurs capacites d'action et de decision parmi les institutions existantes. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.