Abstract
This paper examines a community-based food system which emerged recently around the Simeto River Valley Agreement (SRA) in Sicily (Italy) through the lens of food citizenship. The concept of food citizenship develops an understanding of how food systems function to ensure that individuals and communities have agency, access, and engagement with their food. It allows for comparative analysis between global/industrial and community/alternative systems. This paper follows a methodological integration between action research and a case study approach. The action research process produced a networked governance structure derived from multiple initiatives which are currently initiating many thematic projects—amongst them, a local food system. Results indicate that formalizing governance structures derived from self-organizing behavior have led to an inclusive platform with a shared vision and goals. The governing structures, however, require continued efforts and capacity to engage collaboratively in implementing their strategic plans. Findings suggest that actors developing a food citizenship-focused system should (1) consider how the governance organizational structure enables fluid communication among members and leads to building trust, (2) seek alternatives to engage youth (especially in rural areas) and promote citizen engagement, and (3) develop strategies to seek technical and programmatic support for initiatives. These three aspects are key features which may be adapted to other such efforts in sustainable and local food systems. The complex networked approach to governance presented here and the shared vision for sustainability are considered key elements in fostering a successful alternative food system with the fundamentals of food citizenship at its core.
Highlights
This paper discusses the empirical aspects of the community-based food system that emerged in the past few years around the Simeto River Agreement (SRA) in Sicily (Italy)
This article discussed issues pertaining to food systems through the lens of food citizenship by looking at the governance structure derived from the SRA and the sustainability practices promoted by its actors
From the analysis of the case, there are three elements to highlight as areas of attention for the successful implementation of local food systems: strong organizational structure and capacity building, youth and citizen engagement, and technical/programmatic support
Summary
This paper discusses the empirical aspects of the community-based food system that emerged in the past few years around the Simeto River Agreement (SRA) in Sicily (Italy). Each entails specific policy positions and interests, while expressing a multidimensional social problem that is addressed differently depending on which frame the action is positioned Building on this perspective, a tension emerges between industrialized and community-based food systems. A tension emerges between industrialized and community-based food systems Such tension takes place around the normative and substantial ways in which scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates understand the roles, processes, and outcomes of food systems. This tension is useful to understand how these two types of systems create arrangements to provide access to food, ensure long-term food availability consistent with environmental sustainability, healthy individuals, and communities, and enable agency among actors to make decisions about food. Agents engaged in the systemic processes around food and their interactions determine the systems’ outcomes in terms of agency and sustainability, for which the praxis of food citizenship is critical
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