Will the small be feeding us all? An analysis of alternative food networks in Austria

• Autor(a) principal: Beck, Joana
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/41701
• topic: AFN; Social innovation; Impact analysis; Austria; Inovação social; Análise de impacto; Áustria; Domínio/Área Científica::Ciências Sociais::Economia e Gestão

Social innovation has gained growing relevance from policymakers, civil society, organisations and the scientific community to address the pressing problems of today. Especially our current food systems are environmentally, economically and socially unsustainable and in desperate need of change. Factors like growing consumer distrust and economic and political crises urge the need to change global food chains. AFNs are considered a bottom-up response to those deficiencies. Scholars have stressed the need to investigate the practical implementation and impacts of SI initiatives, especially in the agricultural sector. Moreover, the practical nature and the conceptual ambiguity of SI have stressed the need for more empirical research to derive valuable insights into how these initiatives can help transform the agro-food system. The research question for this study is: “How can alternative food networks produce social and environmental outcomes? The results show that AFNs are producing SI outcomes, especially in terms of returning to traditional practices, enhancing biodiversity and soil health. Due to the close relationship with their consumers, these initiatives also promote participation and knowledge-sharing. Communication and transparency are crucial factors for success, an AFNs could benefit from improving their online presence in order to share their values and mission. Moreover, the study shows that knowledge structures and organisational capabilities need to be implemented.