Multi-Scalar Analysis of Transformational Adaptation in a Coconut-Producing Region in the Philippines

The urgency of climate action fuels ongoing calls for systemic transformations across various sectors worldwide. In global agrifood systems, transformational adaptation is often framed as large-scale change, typically focusing on scaling out climate-smart agricultural technologies. However, alternatives to this "scaling-out" approach exist within complex social-ecological systems, and further research is needed to identify leverage points that can drive broader system-wide change. This paper draws on interviews with national-level decision-makers in the Philippines and fieldwork in a coconut-growing community in Infanta, Luzon, to explore the challenges of achieving large-scale transformation. It argues that diverse interpretations of transformation across different scales make large-scale change difficult to achieve. In Infanta, small coconut farmers favor ecosystem-based adaptation and emphasize intangible aspects of transformation—elements that are often overlooked in national agrifood policy discourses. The disconnect between local adaptation pathways and macro-level transformation narratives creates tensions, preventing local actors from implementing more equitable, just, and ecologically sustainable adaptation strategies. This study challenges the conventional logic of adoption and scaling out, as well as the limited view of place-based transformations that often neglect the multiscalar dynamics and equity considerations critical for systemic change.