A recent study published in a Wageningen University & Research report by Alho, Deen, Groote, Poel, Ndambi, and Beintema explored the effectiveness of the Butterfly Framework in appraising stakeholder assessments of circular innovations in Kenya’s agri-food system. The research focused on biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More and black soldier fly (BSF) products, both considered promising circular innovations.  

The Butterfly Framework, developed by Wageningen University and Research (WUR), is designed to support the understanding of complex systems. The study found that the framework successfully facilitated holistic thinking among stakeholders. By providing a structured approach, the framework encouraged stakeholders to consider the various interconnected elements of the system, including technical, ecological, and socio-economic aspects.  

Another key finding of the research is that the Butterfly Framework fostered a shared language among stakeholders. This was crucial for promoting effective communication and collaboration, as it helped to ensure that everyone had a common understanding of the assessment elements and their interactions.  

The application of the Butterfly Framework also proved beneficial in identifying key impact themes. This helped stakeholders to prioritize their assessments and focus on the most relevant areas of impact, such as socio-economic, environmental, and technical considerations.  

While the study results are promising, the authors acknowledge that the broader application of the Butterfly Framework depends on the local context. They note that the maturity of circular economy sectors can influence the framework’s effectiveness. In Kenya, the biochar and BSF industries are relatively developed, which may have contributed to the successful application of the framework.  

The authors emphasize the need for holistic, stakeholder-informed assessment frameworks to guide and evaluate circular innovations in agri-food systems. They also highlight the importance of developing measurable circularity metrics. This combination would provide a more robust approach to assessing the true impacts of circular innovations.  

In conclusion, the study suggests that the Butterfly Framework is a valuable tool for appraising stakeholder assessments of circular innovations. It promotes holistic thinking, facilitates communication, and aids in identifying key impact themes. However, the authors also emphasize the importance of considering the local context and developing measurable circularity metrics for a comprehensive assessment of circular innovations in agri-food systems.  

Source: Alho, C.F.B.V, S. Naser El Deen, B.G.H. De Groote, M.A. van der Poel, A. Ndambi and N.M. Beintema, 2024. Applying the Butterfly Framework to appraise stakeholder assessments of biochar and black soldier fly as circular innovations in Kenya. Wageningen, Wageningen Social & Economic Research, Report 2025-045.