The need for transformation in food systems is acknowledged broadly. Persisting lock-ins and systemic interactions require research going beyond disciplinary approaches. Transdisciplinary research has the explicit aim to contribute to solving complex sustainability problems. In this article, we present a transdisciplinary framework for incorporating justice considerations as a normative compass into the deliberation of transformation pathways, and apply it to the context of the Finnish food system. The results show how justice can act as a boundary object that brings different disciplines and food system actors together to create a shared language for food systems transformation. At the same time, it makes visible conflicting interests that require ethical reflection by researchers and other societal actors. In future, a well-balanced mix of short- and long-term actions is required to co-produce transformative change while extending the group of engaged actors to address deeper vulnerabilities. This invites transformative research to develop novel procedural and methodological approaches for ethical reflection.
Kaljonen et al. (Mon,) studied this question.