Analysing stakeholder perceptions in organic farming using fuzzy cognitive maps

This study applies a technique from statistical mechanics, ensemble averaging, to analyse Fuzzy Cognitive Maps. These maps were created by stakeholders from seven European countries participating in the Foodlevers project. They represent perceptions of the organic and sustainable food chain and identify key leverage points for improvement. Ensemble dynamics allows us to combine and stabilise results from maps initialised with random values, ensuring reliable insights into the system's dynamics. Through this approach, we identified the most important factors influencing the food chain in each country, highlighting common challenges and unique regional differences. Our findings provide a clear picture of what stakeholders see as critical for improving sustainability in the food system. This innovative method enhances the usefulness of FCMs in cross-country studies, offering practical insights for policymakers and stakeholders to strengthen organic and sustainable food practices across Europe.