Basis for monitoring the performance of Sustainable Development Goals in Organic Food Systems

One way to approach the food systems transformation is through the prism of food system outcomes. The present PhD study employed a mixed methods research design and actor-oriented approach to investigate the outcomes and transformative potential of one of the alternative food systems – the Organic Food System. A stepwise analysis began with the identification of outcome categories along with the specifi c outcomes and proceeded with the investigation of the contribution to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, from goal- to target-level. The revealed outcomes can be attributed to the three dimensions of sustainability. Higher perception of wellbeing and overall quality of life have been repeatedly reported by the organic actors. The Sustainable Development Goals were found to have a high representation in the investigated case studies, whereby the goal 12, responsible consumption and production, seems to be central in all the investigated cases acting as a leverage, activating further outcomes. The results enabled the formulation of a conceptual framework, which needs to be tested in other contexts and settings.