UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this seminar presentation will be in-person only. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. 

Degrowth pathways could help transition towards societies able to create prosperity in a safe and just space for humanity within planetary boundaries. The study presented in this session adopted different methods, including a case study and policy analysis, to explore degrowth-aligned food systems transformations. Degrowth-aligned food enterprises exist, yet systemic barriers persist.

To overcome the systemic barriers of the growth-driven system, there is an increasing need to explore exnovation. Exnovation represents the deliberate and planned process of phasing out of unsustainable practices. This study explored exnovation policies and interventions in G20 countries. Findings indicate that exnovation remains insufficient, fragmented and not structural. Moreover, the results show that elements of justice and barriers were largely absent from the exnovation policies analysed. Contrary to innovation approaches, the exploration of exnovation can include contested scenarios, which could lead to top-down or bottom-up resistance. This study provides insights into opportunities that could strengthen exnovation governance and that could reduce resistance to change.

About the speaker

Dr Sabrina Chakori is a researcher, educator and multi-award winning social entrepreneur. She is a postdoctoral researcher at CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency, and her research explores exnovation governance and post-growth food systems transitions. She is a visiting fellow at the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse (ANU). Sabrina has been working for a more sustainable society for more than 17 years, leading numerous collaborations across various countries. For example, she founded the Brisbane Tool Library, a circular post-growth enterprise that enables people to borrow various items. Sabrina is also the co-founding editor of the Degrowth Journal, which embraces slow science and advances a decommodification of knowledge.

COVID protocols

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This seminar presentation is an in-person only event. Registration is not required for in-person attendance as neither the ANU nor ACT Health conduct contact tracing.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit: Image of wooden blocks with % symbols in a descending formation, with an arrow pointing down, by SewcreamStudio, from Adobe Stock, used under Educational Licence.