Working co-operatively for sustainable and just food system transformation

Nicol, Poppy and Taherzadeh, Alice 2020. Working co-operatively for sustainable and just food system transformation. Sustainability 12 (7) , 2816. 10.3390/su12072816

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (636kB)

Abstract

Co-operative ways of working can be understood as people-centred approaches. This article considers how co-operative ways of working have the potential to support the scaling-out of sustainable and just food systems in the context of Wales through people-centred change. Drawing upon a series of interviews with stakeholders involved in the sustainable and the co-operative food sector within Wales and international case studies, opportunities and challenges facing the scaling-out of sustainable and just food systems are considered. Findings demonstrate the potential of co-operative and community-based approaches to sustainable production, processing, distribution, and trading of healthy food that is affordable, culturally appropriate, and based upon an ethic of justice and care for land, workers, and animals. Community supported agriculture, incubator farms, food hubs, and platform co-operatives are identified as key mechanisms for sustainable and just food systems. Capacity building through education, information, and training are further critical foundations for co-operative and people-centred ways of working. In order to accelerate sustainable and just food futures, community-based participation, networks for training, access to resources and land, and transformative forms of governance, including legislative change, are key. We conclude by highlighting implications for future research into policy transfer and food system transformation.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Sustainable Places Research Institute (PLACES)
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2071-1050
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	2 April 2020
Date of Acceptance:	4 March 2020
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 11:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/130731

Citation Data

Cited 12 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item