Reshaping the Food System Using Food Democracy: Reorienting Consumer and Dietetic Practice

2019 ◽  
pp. 85-96
Author(s):  
Sue Booth ◽  
John Coveney
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Food Democracy

scholarly journals Food Democracy for All? Developing a Food Hub in the Context of Socio-Economic Deprivation

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 142-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Prost
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Food System ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Economic Deprivation ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Local Responses ◽  
Food Hub ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Food Democracy

This article proposes a localised and differentiated understanding of food democracy, or rather a plurality of localised food democracies. Based on the experiences of developing a local food hub in an area of socio-economic deprivation in the UK using a participatory action research (PAR) approach, it presents local responses to three key challenges derived from the literature. It argues that for civic food networks (CFNs) to contribute to a transition towards a food democracy, they need to address challenges of: 1) balancing ethical aspirations for environmental sustainability, social justice, as well as community and individual health; 2) developing the skills required for participation in CFNs; and 3) achieving wider impact on food system transformation beyond niche solutions. The responses, or tactics, presented in this article include flexible ethical standards responding to community needs, accessible participation focusing on relationships rather than skills, and a focus on local impact while striving to collaborate and network with other organisations. It thus frames food democracy as a plurality of approaches to build and replicate CFNs. The article positions PAR with its democratic and localised approach to address real-world problems as uniquely suited to navigate the challenges of CFNs. It also discusses the role of researchers in initiating, facilitating, and shaping such processes of food system democratisation as engaged actors.

scholarly journals How Shall We Judge Agri-Food Governance? Legitimacy Constructions in Food Democracy and Co-Regulation Discourses

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 119-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Behringer ◽  
Peter H. Feindt
Keyword(s):  
Common Good ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Governance ◽  
Regulatory Mode ◽  
Counter Model ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Countervailing Power ◽  
The Common ◽  
Governance Arrangements ◽  
Food Democracy

The food democracy discourse has emerged as a normatively grounded critique of an increasingly transnational agri-food system and its dominant co-regulatory mode of governance, where private and public norms and standards interact with public policy and regulation in complex ways. Analyzing competing agri-food discourses through a legitimacy lens can contribute to understanding how authority is transferred from traditional, hierarchical and state-centered constellations to a range of novel agri-food governance arrangements. This article reconstructs and compares the legitimacy constructions articulated in the co-regulation and the food democracy discourses, generating three key findings: first, there are two distinct articulations of food democracy discourse, which we label liberal and strong food democracy; second, while conceptualizations of legitimacy in the liberal food democracy and the co-regulatory discourse share many commonalities, legitimacy in the co-regulatory discourse relies more heavily on output, while the liberal food democracy discourse is more sensitive to issues of input and throughput legitimacy; third, the strong food democracy discourse articulates a critical counter-model that emphasizes inclusive deliberation which in turn is expected to generate a shared orientation towards the common good and countervailing power.

Food and Power in Hawai'i

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
High Food ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Intensive Farming ◽  
Imported Food ◽  
Agricultural Tourism ◽  
Primary Problem ◽  
Food Democracy

What are the challenges to the food system in Hawai‘i? Food and Power explores issues facing the way we eat and produce (or do not produce) food in Hawai‘i. Given Hawai‘i’s island geography, high dependence on imported food has been portrayed as the primary problem and localization has been the dominant solution proposed. But the book argues that much more is needed to transform the food system to something that is just, equitable, as well as secure and healthy. The chapters in this book point out that the challenges are much more diverse: energy-intensive farming, gendered and racialized farming population, controversies over the ownership and benefits/costs of biotechnology, high food insecurity for marginalized communities, and stratified access to nutritious foods. Defying the reductive approach that looks only at calories or tonnage of food produced/consumed in the state as the indicator of the soundness of food system, the book points out how food problems are necessarily layered with other socio-cultural and economic problems and uses food democracy as the guiding framework. The chapters explore various issues, from agriculture, land use, and colonialism to biotechnology, agricultural tourism, and farmers' markets, and explore how these issues relate to movements toward food democracy.

scholarly journals Conflicts over GMOs and their Contribution to Food Democracy

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 165-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beate Friedrich ◽  
Sarah Hackfort ◽  
Miriam Boyer ◽  
Daniela Gottschlich
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Food System ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Agricultural Futures ◽  
New Breeding Techniques ◽  
Breeding Techniques ◽  
Food Democracy

The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) embodies a specific vision of agricultural systems that is highly controversial. The article focuses on how conflicts over GMOs contribute towards food democracy. Food democracy is defined as the possibility for all social groups to participate in, negotiate and struggle over how societies organize agricultural production, thereby ensuring that food systems fulfil the needs of people and sustain (re)productive nature into the future. EU agricultural policy envisages the coexistence of agricultural and food systems with and without GMOs. This policy, which on the surface appears to be a means of avoiding conflict, has in fact exacerbated conflict, while creating obstacles to the development of food democracy. By contrast, empirical analysis of movements against GMOs in Germany and Poland shows how they create pathways towards participation in the food system and the creation of alternative agricultural futures, thereby contributing to a democratization of food systems and thus of society–nature relations. Today, as products of new breeding techniques such as genome editing are being released, these movements are gaining new relevance.

scholarly journals The Role of Knowledge in Food Democracy

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Adelle
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Dialogue Process ◽  
Cognitive Knowledge ◽  
La Via Campesina ◽  
Food Democracy

If food democracy is about who gets to determine the food that we eat and the character of the underlying food system, then we must examine not only who gets to make decisions that impact on food but also on what evidence, or knowledge, these decisions are made. This article argues that widening the democratic scope of knowledge on which our decisions on food are based is an essential component of food democracy. Food democracies do not just call for citizens to be knowledgeable about the food system but for all stakeholders to actively contribute to the holistic understanding of the food system. Four dimensions of knowledge democracy are set out: The co-production of knowledge with stakeholders; harnessing non-cognitive knowledge represented in arts and culture; knowledge as a tool for action; and the open access and sharing of knowledge. This framework is then used to explore how knowledge is currently already produced and used in a way that enhances food democracy, including through Participatory Action Research with peasant farmers, using the arts to create a ‘contemplative commons’ about food and the unique dialogue process through which the social movement <em>La Vía Campesina</em> operates. Based on these, and other, examples the article concludes that universities, and other recognized centres of knowledge production, need to focus not only on creating new knowledge partnerships but also on finding spaces to challenge and shift accepted ways of knowing in order to better promote food democracy.

Counter crimes and food democracy: Suspects and citizens remaking the food system

2018 ◽  
pp. 367-384
Author(s):  
Sue Booth ◽  
John Coveney ◽  
Dominique Paturel
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Community Gardens ◽  
System P ◽  
Democratic Principles ◽  
Food Democracy

This chapter acknowledges the concept of food crime within the current global industrialised food system and explores three examples of crimes of consumption. A variety of acts of citizen resistance or ‘counter crimes’ in response to food crime are discussed. Counter crimes can be seen as a spectrum of acts of crime or disobedience, which have used food to make public statements. Both opposition and constructivist politics are employed in counter crime. Constructivist activities are incubators for the emergence of new food systems, while oppositional activities focus on the current food system. Constructivist efforts involve fostering and building different food systems for consumers, underpinned by democratic processes, for example farmer’s markets and community gardens. Actions underpinned by democratic principles, constitute a participatory movement whereby citizens exert some modicum of control over their food system. Collectively known as food democracy, it offers some hope in ‘re-making’ an honest food system.

scholarly journals Linking Food Democracy and Sustainability on the Ground: Learnings from the Study of Three Alternative Food Networks in Brussels

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Lohest ◽  
Tom Bauler ◽  
Solène Sureau ◽  
Joris Van Mol ◽  
Wouter M. J. Achten
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Alternative Food Networks ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
The People ◽  
Food Networks ◽  
Food Democracy

The article explores and discusses, both conceptually and empirically, the exercise of food democracy in the context of three alternative food networks (AFNs) in Brussels, Belgium. It demonstrates that food democracy can be described as a “vector of sustainability transition”. The argumentation is built on the results of a 3.5-year participatory-action research project that configured and applied a sustainability assessment framework with the three local AFNs under study. Firstly, the article presents a localized understanding of food democracy. Food democracy is defined as a process aiming to transform the current food system to a more sustainable one. This transformation process starts from a specific point: the people. Indeed, the three AFNs define and implement concrete processes of power-configuration to alter the political, economic, and social relationships between consumers and producers as well as between retailers and producers. Secondly, the article assesses and discusses how the three AFNs perform these practices of food democracy and what effects these have on the actors concerned. The assessment shows that the three AFNs distinguish themselves along a gradient of their transformative potential in terms of practices. However, this variation in their interpretation of food democracy does not translate into a gradient of performance.

scholarly journals Food Democracy from the Top Down? State-Driven Participation Processes for Local Food System Transformations towards Sustainability

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 68-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Baldy ◽  
Sylvia Kruse
Keyword(s):  
Role Model ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
City Council ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
State Actors ◽  
Food Democracy

Food democracy is a concept with growing influence in food policy research. It involves citizens regaining democratic control of the food system and enabling its sustainable transformation. In focusing mainly on civil society initiatives, food democracy research has so far neglected the potential of state-driven food-related participation processes. We base our study on qualitative interviews with local stakeholders in two smaller cities in southern Germany where the city administration and city council initiated participatory processes. The study aims to understand how local actors are framing state-driven participation processes concerning sustainable local food system transformation along key dimensions of food democracy. We identify eight categories that conceptually constitute food democracy: mutual knowledge exchange; legitimacy and credibility of knowledge claims; transparent processes for deliberating ideas; shared language for sharing ideas; expectations of and experience with efficacy; role model function of municipalities; raising awareness; and motivation and justification of the normative orientation. Furthermore, the empirical analysis shows that state actors can have important roles in food-related participation processes as potential initiators, shapers and implementers depending on how they interact with local food-related actors and how they design and coordinate food system transformation processes. This suggests that food democracy research should not necessarily conceptualize state actors, local entrepreneurs and citizens as opponents, but rather, should reconsider how these various actors can drive food democracy and citizenship in a supportive and coordinated way.

scholarly journals Food democracy: possibilities under the frame of the current food system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta López Cifuentes ◽  
Christina Gugerell
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Food System ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Food Research ◽  
Urban Food System ◽  
Democratic Control ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
Food Democracy

AbstractFood democracy is a concept with growing influence in food research. Food democracy deals with how actors may regain democratic control over the food system enabling its sustainable transformation. Following multi-level perspective framework's connotations, food democracy research has so far mainly focused on the niche level of the food system. An integrative approach that includes the perspectives of both the regime and the niche is still missing. This study addresses this research gap and proposes a new conceptual framework for food democracy that includes actors from the niche and the regime level. Furthermore, we apply our conceptual framework to the urban food system of Vienna (Austria) to explore the deeper meaning and practice of food democracy. Finally, we have conducted semi-structured interviews with actors at niche level (10) and regime level (25) within Vienna’s urban food system. Findings from this research broaden the perspective on food democracy and illustrate actors’ contributions at niche and regime level such as promoting organic food, re-localizing food provision, and procuring environmentally sustainable public food. Barriers to food democracy were also identified, e.g.: actors’ self-enhancement values, market-orientation, and capitalist alignment or lack of transparency. We conclude that actors at the niche and, to some extent, at the regime level may contribute to a process of on-going changes that fosters a transformation of established structures within the food system.

scholarly journals Advancing food democracy: The potential and limits of food policy positions in local government

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Erika Berglund ◽  
Neva Hassanein ◽  
Paul Lachapelle ◽  
Caroline Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Local Food ◽  
The United States ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
System Reform ◽  
Policy Positions ◽  
Food Democracy

For several decades, food policy councils (FPCs) have led the effort to place food on local govern­ment policy agendas. While FPCs are making pro­gress in supporting local food systems, they also face institutional and organizational challenges. In recent years, a handful of cities and counties have endeavored to further food system reform with the establishment of full-time government staff posi­tions focused on food policy. As of spring 2020, there were 19 confirmed food policy positions housed in local governments across the United States. While there is considerable literature on FPCs, little research has been published regarding food policy staffing in local governments. Accordingly, this study uses original in-depth inter­views with 11 individuals in municipal or county food policy positions to understand the purpose and function of governmental food policy staff positions and their impact on local food systems. Our findings suggest that these positions help to coordinate and nurture local food programs and policies and have the potential to facilitate mean­ingful participation of individuals and groups in the community in food system reform. We discuss the potential benefits and challenges for governmental food policy positions to support food democracy, and provide the following recom­mendations for communities interested in estab­lishing or strengthening similar positions: (1) iden­tify and coordinate existing opportunities and assets, (2) foster and maintain leadership support, (3) root the work in community, (4) connect with other food policy professionals, and (5) develop a food system vision.

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