Synergies of Synergies

(see also first order synergy, second order synergies and other glossary terms)

Beehive fences

This is an example of the multiple benefits (i.e. synergistic outcomes) that can accrue from a simple change. Innovators tackling crop damage by elephants in Africa introduced flimsy fences containing beehives. Although the elephants could easily trample them down, their fear of bees keeps them at a distance.

This stopped 80 percent of elephant crop raids.
It reduced human-elephant conflicts and elephant killings.
It increased crop yields and created greater food security.
It led to new employment for fence-builders and beekeepers
It also led to new product brands, such as ‘elephant-friendly’ honey and beeswax.

The bicycle

This is an example of numerous synergies that support one another to create an impressive net benefit. Bicycles consist of many synergies that have been combined to create new ones. For example, the 'tension-strength' of stainless steel far greater than its 'compressive strength'.

Cooking

SPROUTS and BROCCOLI seem to have been made for each other. Their affinity, or complementarity means that, when combined, they have more food value than the sum of both. A good cook can combine ordinary, local, inexpensive cooking ingredients and turn them into an extraordinary experiences for her/his diners. This example includes very many types of SYNERGY, from the way heat melts cheese/butter (simple physics) to the more complex nutritional benefits of combining, say, broccoli and sprouts. The way that people co-create a unique, indefinable atmosphere together is even more complex and intangible.
One thing we can learn from food synergies is the way that complementary flavours work. Molecular gastronomy predicts thst any two foods that share a common (molecule) ingredient will taste good when combined. Also, some apparently incompatible substances, such as oil and water can be made to mix when an emulsifier is added. This works if the emulsifier's molecular chain has a water-compatible atom at one end and an oil-compatible atom at the other. These lessons from food technology can be applied in other systems, as, for example, when enemies can be reconciled via a mutual ally.