Beyond Food Provisioning: The Transformative Potential of Grassroots Innovation around Food

Abstract

Abstract:The newly-emerged ethical foodscape includes multiple expressions of innovation around food. With reference to the Italian context, this paper focuses on the transformative potential of the experiences of social innovation, innovative grassroots initiatives, which have been significantly contributed to shaping the food culture and production-consumption practices during the last two decades. While still consolidating their fundamentals and facing the challenge of growth, the networks behind them continue to be engaged in an effort of innovation, inside and outside their niche. The paper explores these dynamics. Understanding how these networks are managing their transformative capacity and what are the opportunities and challenges arising in the relation with the mainstream system may help to better capture and value the potential of this innovation niche, drawing useful lessons for fostering its expression and for a broader transition to more equitable and sustainable food systems.

Research on agro-food sustainability transitions: where are food security and nutrition?

“…Only a few papers adopt a 'food system' approach (Chiffoleau et al 2016;Ely et al 2016;Jurgilevich et al 2016;Kuokkanen et al 2017;Marsden 2013;Vittersø and Tangeland 2015), that can be related to the 'food system transformation' perspective, although many scholars refer to the 'food system' concept (Audet et al 2017;Chiffoleau et al 2016;Crivits and Paredis 2013;Dedeurwaerdere et al 2017;Ely et al 2016;Jehlička and Smith 2011;Jurgilevich et al 2016;Kuokkanen et al 2017;Lutz and Schachinger 2013;Rossi 2017;Vittersø and Tangeland 2015). Different alternative forms of agriculture (e.g.…”

“…Generally speaking, all papers that address aspects of food consumption deal with nutrition (Chiffoleau et al 2016;Clear et al 2016;Dedeurwaerdere et al 2017;Liu et al 2016;Mylan et al 2016;Rossi 2017;Stahlbrand 2016). Interestingly, there is also a correspondence between focus on nutrition and reference analytical framework.…”

“…These are mainly the ones that address issues regarding the whole food system (see, 'food system approach') as well as those that deal with food consumption patterns and practices (Chiffoleau et al 2016;Clear et al 2016;Dedeurwaerdere et al 2017;Jurgilevich et al 2016;Kuokkanen et al 2017;Liu et al 2016;Mylan et al 2016;Rossi 2017;Stahlbrand 2016). In fact, all papers that deal with food utilisation/use pillar of food security also address aspects of food consumption and, consequently, nutrition (Chiffoleau et al 2016;Clear et al 2016;Dedeurwaerdere et al 2017;Liu et al 2016;Mylan et al 2016;Rossi 2017;Stahlbrand 2016). For instance, Liu et al (2016) propose applying the social practices approach (SPA), which combines both human agency ('individualist' perspective) and social structures (system or structural perspective), to better understand transitions toward the sustainability of food consumption patterns in China.…”

Transition heuristic frameworks in research on agro-food sustainability transitions

“…The challenge arises from both the internal characteristics of the niche (see difficulty to explain and apply permaculture concept) as well as the resistance of the mainstream. Also Rossi (2017) focused on the transformative potential of grassroots food innovations in Italy. She shows that grassroots initiatives, as examples of bottom-up and inclusive social innovation, have had a significant contribution in shaping the Italian food culture and consumption practices.…”

“…Case study Country Bhattarai and Pant (2013) Gender mainstreaming in rural areas Nepal Hermans et al (2013) Environmental cooperatives The Netherlands Kirwan et al (2013) Big Lottery Local Food programme UK (England) Maye (2018) Permaculture community UK (England) Raman and Mohr (2014) Biofuels Undefined Rossi (2017) Grassroots food innovations Italy Smith (2006) Organic food UK analysed how networks, visions and learning about biofuels have been shaped over time.…”