Food Resistance Movements: Journeying Through Alternative Food Networks

Description

This book examines food resistance movements as a form of alternative food network, charting the author’s journey as a cultural anthropologist through three food resistance movements. In Australia, freegans’ consumption of ‘garbage’ in the food waste movement of the early 2000s reveals the extent of food going to waste from commercial sources while people go hungry. In contrast, Venezuela’s food sovereignty movement is part of a national transition from a capitalist to socialist economy, highlighting processes of decentralisation, collectivisation, and government-grassroots’ coalitions. The study of autonomous spaces in Catalonia illuminates how food sharing can enable people to live their politics, as well as the centrality of issues around urban governance, consumption, technology and use of space to food resistance efforts. This engaging volume brings an important and engaging contribution to current discussions around the transition to just and sustainable food systems. Series Editor Foreword Acknowledgements Praise for Food Resistance Movements Contents About the Author Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introducing Food Resistance Movements Alternative Food Networks Trajectory 1: AFNs from Europe Trajectory 2: AFNs from North America Trajectory 3: AFNs in the Global South Trajectory 4: Social Welfare AFNs Why Cities? Case Studies in Australia, Venezuela and Catalonia Ethnographies of Food Resistance Movements The Book Structure Conclusion References Chapter 2: Food Waste Activism in Australia The Problem of Overconsumption and Food ‘Waste’ My Radical Beginnings in the Bin The Ethics of Sourcing and Eating ‘Garbage’ Associated Freegan Subcultures Where Do Freegans ‘Shop’? What’s on the Freegan Menu? The Politics of FNB Serving Sites Is Eating ‘Garbage’ Safe? Is It Legal? Constructing a Freegan Identity Conclusion References Chapter 3: The Food Sovereignty Movement in Venezuela A Brief History of Venezuelan Politics, Dutch Disease and Agriculture So Enters Chávez In the Field Venezuelan Gastronomy and Food Pathways Indigenous and Traditional Food Pathways The Commercial Pathway The Informal Sector Independent Alternative Food Pathways The Venezuelan Food Sovereignty Movement Rural and Urban Land Reform Urban Productive Programmes Distribution: Subsidised, Regulated and Free Food for All Subsidised and Regulated Supermarket Chains A Blockage in the Food Chain? Subsidised Eateries Free Food Dietary Outcomes Environmental Outcomes Chávez’s Final Years Conclusion References Chapter 4: Autonomous Food Spaces in Catalonia A Catalan Culture of Resistance and Protest Internal Governance Processes of Autonomous Food Spaces Can Masdeu L’Aixada La Xarca D’Aliments Governing ‘Openness’ to Sustain Resistance Sharing Physical and Virtual Space Membership Sustaining Autonomous Spaces Through Food Sharing Beyond Ethical Consumption at L’Aixada Anti-consumerism at La Xarxa Degrowth at Can Masdeu Conclusion References Chapter 5: Reflections on Food System Transitions Beyond Awareness Raising and Behaviour Change Institutionalisation: A Pathway for Integrating AFNs into Policy and Planning Maintenance and Care: Deepening and Sustaining Engagement in AFNs Failure Technological Innovation The Commercialisation of AFNs A Food Sharing Ecosystem: Diversification, Hybridisation and Replication of AFNs Diversification and Hybridisation Replication Translocal Food Movements Food Resistance Movements from Global South to North Conclusion References Chapter 6: Future Directions for Food Resistance Movements Conclusion References Index