A field of alternative food organizations: a study of discourses, actions and goals toward food system change in Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Abstract While there is an abundant literature on alternative food organizations (AFOs), this research mostly consists of studies focusing on single types of food organizations. Hence, we lack a more encompassing understanding of how different types of AFOs are connected and what their collective transformative potential is within the food regime. In this article, we analyze how AFOs build a field, bring about social change collectively, and examine toward what type of change they work. Building on original survey data, network analyses and frames analyses, we propose an innovative quantitative operationalization of strategic action fields. We show that AFOs engaged in an information exchange network are more likely to hold systemic goals such as anticapitalism and food democracy than isolated AFOs. They also use more contentious action repertoires. We argue that a field of AFOs has more transformative potential than isolated organizations because they collectively challenge the status quo.