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Ecological Citizenship and Sustainable Consumption: Examining Local Organic Food Networks
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Sustainable consumption is gaining in currency as a new environmental policy objective. This paper presents new research findings from a mixed-method empirical study of a local organic food network to interrogate the theories of both sustainable consumption and ecological citizenship. It describes a mainstream policy model of sustainable consumption, and contrasts this with an alternative model derived from green or ‘new economics’ theories. Then the role of localised, organic food networks is discussed to locate them within the alternative model. It then tests the hypothesis that ecological citizenship is a driving force for ‘alternative’ sustainable consumption, via expression through consumer behaviour such as purchasing local organic food. The empirical study found that both the organisation and their consumers were expressing ecological citizenship values in their activities in a number of clearly identifiable ways, and that the initiative was actively promoting the growth of ecological citizenship, as well as providing a meaningful social context for its expression. Furthermore, the initiative was able to overcome the structural limitations of mainstream sustainable consumption practices. Thus, the initiative was found to be a valuable tool for practising alternative sustainable consumption. The paper concludes with a discussion of how ecological citizenship may be a powerful motivating force for sustainable consumption behaviour, and the policy and research implications of this.
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... The number of publications increased during the second phase (infant growth), starting with 28 articles in 2002 and ending with 30 articles in 2008. The increase was mainly due to the standard definition of Since that year, several developed nations have become concerned with aligning themselves with sustainable consumption policies [73]. Remarkably, the United Kingdom has enacted regulations regarding the clarity of food labeling, educated the citizens to be more environmentally conscious and initiated the implementation of green taxes [74]. ...
... Remarkably, the United Kingdom has enacted regulations regarding the clarity of food labeling, educated the citizens to be more environmentally conscious and initiated the implementation of green taxes [74]. Since that year, several developed nations have become concerned with aligning themselves with sustainable consumption policies [73]. Remarkably, the United Kingdom has enacted regulations regarding the clarity of food labeling, educated the citizens to be more environmentally conscious and initiated the implementation of green taxes [74]. ...
... Indeed, research on local food as a type of SFC was less popular than research on organic food. Local food was frequently associated with a competitive advantage as a tourist attraction, because it sells authenticity and is expected to have a smaller carbon footprint than imported food products, and it can additionally boost the local economy [19,73,78,95,97,157]. Environmentally friendly production without chemicals cannot be guaranteed in local food, unlike organic food, which has received a certification for its environmentally friendly production process. ...
The major goal of this study is to trace the emergence of SFC-related research across time, using a thematic map and a list of corresponding publications. In addition, this study aims to determine the author who has made the most significant contribution to this particular field. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the historical development and current trends in sustainable food consumption research, examining 2265 articles published between 1990 and 2023. Using the bibliometrics package of R Studio software version 4.2.1 and its Biblioshiny package, articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases are examined. In the field of sustainable food consumption, we identify five distinct research phases: initial stagnation, infant growth, post-economic crisis, expanding phase and COVID-19 and post-pandemic. While research on broader sustainability topics can be traced back to the early 20th century, a very limited number of articles on sustainable food consumption was published in the 1990s. However, the number of publications increased incrementally over time, with a notable uptick in interest around 2015, and the subject was still being discussed in 2022. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic marked the beginning of the most recent phase of research, which analyzed the consumption patterns of consumers before and after the pandemic. Our study highlights key authors, documents and sources related to sustainable food consumption. The United States, Italy and the United Kingdom emerged as the most active contributors to the research on sustainable food consumption and were additionally the countries with the largest global market shares for organic products. Major sub-themes including organic food, food waste, sustainable development and food security, together with consumer behavior and organic products appeared as being the most researched sub-themes of recent times. The results of this study suggest that more research is related to sustainable food consumption in countries with a low organic food market share. In addition, the investigation of actual data on food waste, carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from food production and consumption is essential to gain holistic insights.
... In the mainstream understanding of sustainability, sustainability gains are intrinsically associated with and dependent on the processes characterized by multiple and diverse meanings of positively valorized notions of novelty and creativity. These include future-oriented capacity building, ecomodernist technological innovation, civic participation and mobilization based on learned intentionality, and utilizing digitally enhanced communication and networking (Pandey et al. 2022;Seyfang 2006;Ferenčuhová 2021; Van der Straeten 2022)-processes whose combined power is deemed capable of sparking and facilitating the implicitly future-oriented transition to sustainability (Prost et al. 2023). ...
Drawing on an exploratory study of urban food self-provisioning (FSP) in China, this article argues that progress in sustainability scholarship can be accelerated by embracing a greater diversity of framings of sustainability. It brings four important empirical findings concerning the prevalence of Chinese urban FSP, the social diversity of its practitioners, their primarily non-economic motivations, and production methods meeting the criteria for organic food that are deployed by more than a third of urban food growers. On this basis, the article highlights the importance of greater attention to identifying and valuing ‘already existing sustainability’ in non-Western contexts, rather than privileging Western conceptualizations of sustainability that promise sustainability innovation in the future.
... Intrinsic and transcendent motivations, as well as hedonic aspirations, can positively influence the consumption of sustainable food. Some studies on local organic agri-food networks present evidence that conscious consumers are guided by altruistic motivations, social values, attachment to the territory or the search for more supportive, ethical, and sustainable production foodsystems (Zoll et al., 2018;Seyfang, 2006Seyfang, , 2007. Recent studies on grassroots food initiatives show that perceived high-quality of organic food, environmental concern, and the desire to strengthen the local economy represent the main motivations for people to purchase organic, "kilometre zero" food or Slow Food products (Vita et al., 2020;Zoll et al., 2018;Papaoikonomou, 2013). ...
The economic system of humanity is characterized by being unilateral,
that is, in one direction or sense, which in this case and obviously
is that of the sole and exclusive benefit of humans. Instead, we can
go towards a two-way economic system, taking into account the other
parties and also their benefit. In addition, this approach is based on
something as simple and original as exchange, the potlach that nature
has taught us but that we have forgotten because of the chrematistic
interests that dominate in this omnipresent and transcendental activity
of our existence.
Planning a new economic system may seem utopian, impossible, a chimera
or entelechy, even something crazy. But less is nothing, even if it is
only an idea, and especially if it is necessary, as the events and the
situation are developing towards where our current way of living and
producing is leading us. Although from its base or principle, the urgent
and peremptory cannot lead us to make the same mistakes or others that
may arise from wrong approaches, as often happens when we only think
of our own benefit. For all these reasons, this proposal for a new or
another economic model already starts from a different basis and can
be summarized in a single point, idea or approach for its development:
the multilateral nature of our activities and, specifically, of the
productive one. That is to say, having the planet from which we obtain
the resources, compared to the one-sidedness of the current system, in
which we only look for ourselves. By simply assuming this principle and
starting point, we would already be changing, improving and taking a
great step in the right existential direction
Broadly, consumerism can be considered as a set of beliefs and values integrated into, but not exclusive to, the global market system, intended to make people believe that happiness is best achieved through possessions. In literature there are several other definitions of consumerism, consumption, anti-consumption and consumption communities. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to (i) present an overview of the research concepts, models and main theories of this topic, based on a systematic literature review and using the following databases to search information: Elsevier, Emerald, Science Direct, EBSCO, Springer, and ISI web knowledge; (ii) formulate a framework of consumption waves and anti-consumption motivations and types (iii) discuss consumption and anti-consumerism in football (soccer) context. The current study also carried out semi-structured interviews with 15 football fans with an average duration of 60 minutes each. Findings revealed four main types of anti-consumption: Global impact consumers or anti-consumption society; Selective consumption or anti-loyalists market activists; Conservative or Simplifiers; and Rejection of brand hegemony. Football fans are avid consumers of many products, such as information, knowledge, travels, tickets to matches, and diverse merchandizing from brands that sponsor the team and the club. Nevertheless, they are also selective consumers, rejecting everything connected to the rival clubs. Finally, the chapter provides insights for further research and managerial implications. In this vein, this chapter contributes to the existing literature giving insights for a better understanding of football clubs and fans as consumers and anti-consumers.
This paper examines the social implications of sustainable consumption through an empirical study of a local organic food initiative. It sets out an analytical framework based upon Douglas's Cultural Theory to categorise the range of competing value perspectives on sustainable consumption into ‘hierarchical', ‘individualistic’ and ‘egalitarian’ worldviews, and considers how these various worldviews might each adopt locally-grown organic food as a sustainable consumption initiative. Tensions between the paradigms are evident when attention is turned to a case study of a local organic food producers’ cooperative. Research with both producers and consumers reveals that the values embedded in its practice are both partisan and pluralistic, but are principally ‘Egalitarian'. Its interactions with policy regimes and social and economic institutions are examined, to illustrate the value conflicts inherent, and understand the barriers it faces in operation and the institutional factors inhibiting the growth of grassroots ‘bottom-up’ sustainable food initiatives of this kind. In addition to addressing these barriers, the policy implications of these findings for sustainable consumption policy and practice are discussed.
Mother Earth is dying. Humanity needs to step up. Otherwise, the planet we call home will soon be uninhabitable. The destiny of our planet inarguably depends on consumers, as their choices have the power to turn them into eco‐superheroes (sustainable consumption) or eco‐villains (unsustainable consumption). This article aims to review the current progress of consumption research and propose strategies to inspire consumers to embrace their inner eco‐warrior spirit, fostering sustainable behavior that protects the environment and supports human well‐being. To achieve this, this article employs an integrative approach, merging a meta‐perspective on theoretical development with a multi‐study methodological approach. Harnessing the power of scientometrics, this article delivers meta‐insights from a multi‐study analysis on consumption trends in relation to environmental values (micro‐perspective; Study 1) and planetary health (macro‐perspective; Study 2). These findings pave the way for future research and intervention strategies designed to nurture ecological sustainability and unleash the eco‐warrior in every consumer.
У статті розглянуто питання застосування маркетингових інструментів стратегічного розвитку виробництва крафтової продукції АПК. Визначено основні впливові фактори на розвиток сільськогосподарського товаровиробництва, а також на функціонування малих сільськогосподарських товаровиробників. Визначено основні ринкові тенденції, які впливають на ефективність функціонування виробників крафтових продуктів в галузі АПК. Охарактеризовано основні аспекти брендингу крафтової сільськогосподарської продукції чи харчових продуктів. Обґрунтовано доцільність закріплення права інтелектуальної власності на унікальні характеристики крафтового продукту та його бренду. Визначено канали дистрибуції крафтових харчових продуктів. Узагальнено інструменти маркетингу для виробників крафтової продукції, у т.ч. і маркетингові інструменти стратегічного розвитку виробників крафтової продукції АПК. Досліджено ринкові механізми ціноутворення на крафтові харчові продукти. Охарактеризовано взаємодію між зацікавленими сторонами агропродовольчого ланцюга у формі вертикальної та горизонтальної інтеграції. Охарактеризовано можливість використання крафтового сільськогосподарського виробництва у якості туристичного об’єкту. Визначено роль місцевої влади у напрямку сприяння розвитку агротуризму шляхом об’єднання методів прямого маркетингу.
The global organic food industry is a continuously expanding sector. Consumer preferences drive market development. Consumers who are concerned about issues such as healthy nutrition and reliable food supply have a positive attitude towards organic products. In this study, for 2135 consumers, the relationship between education and different demographic factors in organic product purchase preference was evaluated with the help of multinomial logistic regression analysis. It was determined that being a female consumer, being between the ages of 31-40, being a university and postgraduate graduate, being married, and having a household income above 30,001 TL were effective in the preference of organic product criteria. Regarding education, the likelihood of choosing the organic product standard over promotion was 1.02 times greater in the university graduate category and 2.23 times higher in the post-graduate category, compared to those who only completed primary school.
There is a tension regarding the potential of the alternative agro-food movement to create meaningful change. From one perspective, individual and organizational actors working to change the dominant food system need to be engaged on a daily basis in political and social struggles and accomplish what is presently possible given existing opportunities and barriers. From an alternate view, such pragmatism is woefully inadequate for achieving the complete transformation of the food and agriculture system that many movement actors and academic analysts see as necessary. This paper examines some of the issues underlying this tension. It is argued that the “sustainability” of food and agriculture systems is understandably a contested concept because it inevitably involves both conflicts over values and uncertainty about outcomes. These same characteristics make democracy the method of choice for the alternative agro-food movement, and this paper discusses the emerging concept of “food democracy” in order to elaborate upon its practical utility with respect to collective action. The existing alternative agro-food movement is the main source of the pressure to democratize the agro-food system. While the movement in the United States (and elsewhere) is very diverse in terms of organizational forms and strategies, there are important opportunities for developing coalitions among various groups. Lastly, food democracy is discussed as a pragmatic method for transforming the agro-food system.
There is an emerging recognition of the importance of consumption within the sustainability debate. The term ‘sustainable consumption’ has been coined to reflect this emphasis. In pursuit of its advocacy remit, the Sustainable Development Commission is currently seeking to influence government policy on sustainable consumption, specifically with regard to DEFRA’s forthcoming Sustainable Consumption and Production strategy and other UK policy developments. The purpose of this document is to enhance that process. It aims to provide a guide to the complexity of the sustainable consumption debate, an overview of the extensive literatures on consumer behaviour and lifestyle change, and an analysis of the policy opportunities suggested by these literatures.
The most common policy strategies for promoting sustainable development are regulatory and economic. However, there is increasing interest in an alternative or complementary idea, namely, ‘environmental citizenship’. This article seeks to develop a particular interpretation of environmental citizenship. It is argued that a consistent political liberalism must conceive of its citizens as ‘citizens of an environment’. An account of liberal environmental citizenship is proposed, and the rights and duties of the liberal environmental citizen are outlined and discussed.
“Coming home to eat” [Nabhan, 2002. Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods. Norton, New York] has become a clarion call among alternative food movement activists. Most food activist discourse makes a strong connection between the localization of food systems and the promotion of environmental sustainability and social justice. Much of the US academic literature on food systems echoes food activist rhetoric about alternative food systems as built on alternative social norms. New ways of thinking, the ethic of care, desire, realization, and vision become the explanatory factors in the creation of alternative food systems. In these norm-based explanations, the “Local” becomes the context in which this type of action works. In the European food system literature about local “value chains” and alternative food networks, localism becomes a way to maintain rural livelihoods. In both the US and European literatures on localism, the global becomes the universal logic of capitalism and the local the point of resistance to this global logic, a place where “embeddedness” can and does happen. Nevertheless, as other literatures outside of food studies show, the local is often a site of inequality and hegemonic domination. However, rather than declaim the “radical particularism” of localism, it is more productive to question an “unreflexive localism” and to forge localist alliances that pay attention to equality and social justice. The paper explores what that kind of localist politics might look like.
Ecological citizenship cannot be fully articulated in either liberal or civic republican terms. It is, rather, an example and an inflection of ‘post‐cosmopolitan’ citizenship. Ecological citizenship focuses on duties as well as rights, and its conception of political space is not the state or the municipality, or the ideal speech community of cosmopolitanism, but the ‘ecological footprint’.
Ecological citizenship contrasts with fiscal incentives as a way of encouraging people to act more sustainably, in the belief that the former is more compatible with the long‐term and deeper shifts of attitude and behaviour that sustainability requires. This book offers an original account of the relationship between liberalism and sustainability, arguing that the former's commitment to a plurality of conceptions of the good entails a commitment to so‐called ‘strong’ forms of the latter.
How to make an ecological citizen? The potential of formal high school citizenship education programmes is examined through a case study of the recent implementation of the compulsory citizenship curriculum in the UK.
The aim of this paper is to begin to examine the emergence of Farmers' Markets (FM) in the UK. It is suggested that FM represent a new type of 'consumption space' within the contemporary British foodscape, one which may be read as a heterotopic convergence of localist, moral, ethical and environmental discourses, mediated by networks of producers, consumers and institutions. Based on a preliminary analysis of some of the discourses employed by these actors, it is argued that FM can be understood simultaneously as 'conservative' and 'alternative' spaces. 'Conservative' in that they encapsulate a reactionary valorization of the local, linking localness to the ideas of quality, health and rurality, and 'alternative' in that they represent a diversifying rural economy arising in response to the difficulties being experienced by some UK farmers and a more general perception of a countryside under threat. Initial evidence from a pilot case study in Stratford-upon-Avon is used to support these suggestions and propose directions for future research.
This is a book about government social policy in relation to the environment, pollution, the workplace, and public safety and health. The questions it poses are: to what extent is government justified in interfering with the wishes of individuals? What are the goals of social legislation? How can these best be achieved, and are they worth the costs? -from Author
