In this paper, we study sustainability transitions in agriculture and highlight several elements that distinguish transition dynamics in this sector from those more frequently studied in the socio-technical transitions literature. Our assumption is that ecological dimensions of agricultural systems affect transition dynamics. We illustrate this by focusing on two central characteristics related to biodiversity conservation: place-based embeddedness and the public goods’ character of biodiversity. A qualitative, multiple-case study was conducted on the Dutch dairy sector by carrying out 22 in-depth interviews. We show how change in the agricultural sector is strongly geographically embedded and dependent on regime actors who need to be enabled and incentivized to partake in the transition process. Due to the public goods’ character of biodiversity, there is a strong focus on the development of institutional novelty. Dynamics of change show a specific fit between ecological conditions and innovation.

在本文中，我们研究了农业的可持续性转型，并着重介绍了将这一部门的转型动态与社会技术转型文献中较常研究的要素区分开的几个要素。我们的假设是农业系统的生态维度会影响过渡动态。我们通过关注与生物多样性保护相关的两个主要特征来说明这一点：基于地点的嵌入性和生物多样性的公共物品特征。通过进行22次深度访谈，对荷兰乳业进行了定性，多案例研究。我们展示了农业部门的变化是如何在地理上牢固地嵌入并依赖于政权参与者的，这些参与者需要被赋予能力和激励才能参与过渡过程。由于公共产品具有生物多样性的特征，人们非常关注制度新颖性的发展。变化的动态表明生态条件与创新之间存在特定的契合。