ORCID
- Bramble Gardiner: 0000-0002-2246-8320
- Louise Hunt: 0000-0002-3895-1202
- Clare Pettinger: 0000-0001-7182-9463
Abstract
This article offers insights into delivering co-production in community settings, from the perspectives of engaged citizens and community partners. It adds to scholarship addressing epistemic justice issues that the experiences of engaged citizens are rarely explored.The engaged citizens are community collaborators in FoodSEqual (a UKRI-funded transdisciplinary project aiming to co-produce solutions to food system inequality in four UK locations). During FoodSEqual’s delivery, it became clear contextual factors and practical delivery varied. To support shared learning, an in-person reflective session was held using the ‘open space method’ (Involve, n.d) (participants: Community Food Researchers (CFRs) (n=14), community coordinators (n=6)). Four key themes were defined during the session. A content analysis of observational notes was undertaken by a PhD Student (BG) and CFR (MR). Resulting outputs were checked with most of the original participants.Areas identified by community collaborators as instrumental to successful co-production were: 1. Engagement and building trust; 2. Co-designing practical research activities; 3. Balancing structure and flexibility; 4. Community engagement outside activities. Contributions include suggestions to incorporate unstructured time within research activities that allow participants to raise other topics of interest, and training for non-community partners (perhaps secondments in community settings, where mutual learning could occur). We also highlight the need for increased understanding and acknowledgement of additional emotional and relational labour in community roles, and an institutional shift towards valuing process. Finally, we identify how the engagement model itself can contribute to food system transformation through building community capacity and connectivity.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2026-07-16
Publication Title
Research for All
Volume
10
Issue
1
Acceptance Date
2026-03-08
Deposit Date
2026-07-21
Keywords
co-production, co-design, participatory research, transdisciplinary research, food system transformation, community researchers, peer researchers
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Gardiner, B., Roughton, M., Howard, L., Hunt, L., Pettinger, C., & Unis, N. (2026) 'Delivering participatory food systems research in our own communities: reflections about co-production by community food researchers and community partners', Research for All, 10(1). Available at: 10.14324/RFA.10.1.9
