The social and solidarity economy

The role of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in the agricultural sector has a long history but is sometimes lost sight of. It is now attracting renewed interest and relevance in the context of the transitions underway. The food transition, in particular, illustrates the renewed and innovative role of SSE players in helping to reduce the environmental impact of food production, while at the same time working to regain added value for local areas. Territorial food projects, systemic dynamics on a local scale, are the tools of these multi-actors strategies that give a large place to SSE players. The public authorities are supporting these initiatives, which rely more on cooperation than on competition, although they have not completely abandoned the logic of liberal competition. This article describes the multiple dynamics underway and emphasises the key role of experimentation and local political will in accelerating these transitions.