A ‘living lab’ is an experimental environment where various stakeholders collaborate to address complex societal challenges. However, the added value of this collaboration only emerges when all perspectives are equally heard and included in the conversation.
Within FutureFoodS, a ten-year European partnership working towards a more sustainable, fairer, and resilient food system, we facilitated two multi-actor workshops in which living labs, policymakers, companies, and future thinkers reflected together on the role of living labs in this transition.
Our contribution lay in both the smart design of the participatory process and the professional moderation of the interactions. By doing so, we created an environment where different voices, experiences, and expertise were heard and could contribute to the dialogue on an equal footing. Through targeted techniques and facilitation, we ensured that dominant perspectives did not prevail and that less visible insights also received a place in the conversation.
It resulted in a rich exchange of experiences, challenges, and ambitions, and yielded valuable insights into the role that living labs can play in the transformation of our food system. At the same time, the process demonstrated that inclusive moderation and effective participation methods are crucial to harness the full potential of diverse stakeholder perspectives.
