TECHNICAL PAPER| MARCH 06 2026
A VSM governance tool and agricultural paradigm change for climate and ecology
Angus Jenkinson

Author & Article Information
Kybernetes 1–25.
https://doi.org/10.1108/K-06-2025-1586
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Purpose
This study offers transformation pathways through the intersections of enterprise governance and farming in response to climate and ecological crises (COP21, COP28 et al.). The analysis further proposes Virtuoso as a novel integration capability for the Viable System Model (“VSM”), Stafford Beer’s systemic methodology for enterprise management (Beer, 1985; Jenkinson, 2022). It thereby contrasts farming models and their ways of seeing.

A VSM governance tool and agricultural paradigm change for climate and ecology | Kybernetes | Emerald Publishing

https://www.emerald.com/k/article-abstract/doi/10.1108/K-06-2025-1586/1344986/A-VSM-governance-tool-and-agricultural-paradigm?redirectedFrom=fulltext

On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angusjenkinson_virtuoso-biodynamicfarming-fertilizers-activity-7437173834631442432-Hmq4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho, Angus says:

Angus Jenkinson

Very happy to share this paper I just published about different farming models and their impact on nature and climate (A VSM governance tool and agricultural paradigm change for climate and ecology). it shows how this relates to ways of seeing the world and managing a company or enterprise. This features the VSM, the viable system model developed by Stafford Beer, whose centennial is this year. It takes a deep look at identity as the guiding star and model.

But what really excites me is its illustration of the immense potential the right kind of farming has. The key to the life and economic health of the farm is soil management and that depends on understanding how to cherish it so that it will support farmer, food, and future.

You see the future is very bleak if farming does not get its act fully together, so I am delighted to showcase genuine best practice in the case study. The featured farm is sequestering around ten times more carbon than it emits

https://lnkd.in/e5xsMMNq

Findings

Farming has radically altered the planetary biosphere (Ellis et al., 2010). The IC model is a major contributor to global climate and biodiversity challenges through its degenerative cycle of soil degradation, input dependency, and declining resilience (Montgomery, 2017, 39–40, 80–81). BD demonstrates that economically sound, mitigation and regeneration is possible, exceeding UN COP21 soil organic carbon (“SOC”) targets, a key indicator of climate change (Gantlett, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025). Virtuoso articulates their contrasting identities and operational logics, revealing latent potential for agriculture and the VSM.