Modern society’s industrial food system has led to several environmental problems and is compromising the fundamental aspects of agriculture such as fertile soil, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. In addition to this, the food system contributes to economic and social difficulties for actors within the agricultural sector. Hence, the food system requires a deep socio-economic change. Regionalwert AG is among other alternative food networks, an initiative to enhance sustainable agriculture by operating at a regional level. In this study, interviews were conducted with partner companies of Regionalwert AG with the aim to examine what motivates people to engage in alternative food networks, using Regionalwert AG as an exemplary case. A further aim was to examine the partnership between the partner companies and Regionalwert AG. The results were analysed using the study's state of knowledge and the theoretical framework, consisting of alienation theory. The study shows that the informants had unique stories about how they engaged with the network and that the partnership was constructed in three different ways: investment partnership, licensed partnership, and supportive partnership. The motivations that emerged from the study were divided into three themes: (i) economic, social and ideological, (ii) critical approach towards the food system, and (iii) re-connecting people with agriculture. The informants expressed that they want to spread knowledge and awareness about food production and Regionalwert AG makes this financially possible as well as provides a platform to spread the message about the value of food. / Det moderna samhällets industriella livsmedelssystem har lett till flera miljöproblem och det kompromissar fundamentala aspekter inom jordbruket som bördig jord, biodiversitet och ekosystemtjänster. Utöver miljöproblemen bidrar livsmedelssystemet till ekonomiska och sociala svårigheter för aktörer inom jordbrukssektorn. Därav krävs en stor socioekonomisk förändring av livsmedelssystemet. Regionalwert AG är tillsammans med andra alternativa livsmedelsnätverk ett initiativ till att öka hållbart jordbruk genom att verka på en regional nivå. I den här studien, genomfördes intervjuer med partnerföretag till Regionalwert AG med syftet att undersöka vad som motiverar människor att gå med i alternativa livsmedelsnätverk, genom att använda Regionalwert AG som ett exemplifierande fall. Ett ytterligare syfte var att undersöka partnerskapet mellan partnerföretagen och Regionalwert AG. Resultatet analyserades med hjälp av studiens kunskapsläge och teoretiska ramverk, bestående av alienationsteori. Studien visar att informanterna hade unika berättelser om hur de anslöt sig till nätverket och att partnerskapet var konstruerat på tre olika sätt: investerings partnerskap, licensierat partnerskap och stödjande partnerskap. Motivationerna som kom fram genom studien föll under tre teman: (i) ekonomisk, social och ideologisk, (ii) kritisk inställning mot livsmedelssystemet och (iii) återknyta människor med jordbruket. Informanterna uttryckte att de vill sprida kunskap och medvetenhet om matproduktion och Regionalwert AG gör detta finansiellt möjligt samt utgör en plattform för att sprida budskapet om värdet bakom livsmedel.

Background: The relevance of the food system for economic, environmental and social well-being is vital to consider. However, there is a lack of research covering issues and performance assessments of the supply chains in the food industry. Due to pressures on the natural environment and unsustainable production and distribution, Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC’s) have arisen as an alternative model to conventional supply chains. However, there is a need for more research in the field as its showing to be a growing trend in the food industry. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to study the topic of SFSC, where the focus in this paper is to explore what advantages and barriers food producers experience when operating within a SFSC. Method: This study is exploratory and follows an inductive and qualitative approach, where 6 semi-structured interviews with local food producers were used to collect data. The data was analysed and connected to previous literature using a thematic analysis.   Conclusion: The findings in this research illuminates that the advantages and barriers from selling through SFSC´s depends on the circumstances of the channel and the characteristics of the producers. They experienced advantages in their organization such as a high professional satisfaction, fair compensation and autonomy. The social proximity between the actors also facilitated the management of information and allowed for supply chain flexibility. However, producers also faced barriers such as the lack of proper governance in the SFSC channels, and logistical challenges such as the uncertainty of production and the difficulty of ensuring the efficiency of transportations. The analysis of SFSC’s is still in its early stages and the necessary innovations to attain the full positive effects have yet to be implemented.

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The primary purposes of this dissertation were to (i) assess and identify post-industrial urban neighborhoods with food-insecure and vulnerable populations, and (ii) explore and analyze the role of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) in addressing place-based food insecurity. The study used mixed-methods, including qualitative GIS, statistical tests, surveys, interviews, and field observations. A food justice theoretical framework was used to develop a Place-Based Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Index (PFIVI), which factored together 33 variables to measure six indicators. The study applied this index in the City of Philadelphia and then examined three types of interventions that NPOs embark on - providing hunger relief, providing healthy and affordable food through the alternative food movement, and offering food-based programs and events tied with community capacity building efforts. Statistical relationships between PFIVI scores and NPO-driven programs showed spatial mismatch issues between the programs and community needs in some neighborhoods. This research also highlighted other limitations of these programs and the challenges that NPOs face both on- and above-the-ground. While the NPOs are trying hard to promote food justice through their mission statements, advocacy, outreach, and on-the-ground programs, the city may have only partially achieved this goal. A lot more needs to be done by strengthening organizational networks, strengthening social networks with community residents, and offering healthy but affordable food in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and NPOs alone should not bear these responsibilities. / Geography

This dissertation critically analyzes home and community gardens within Metro-Orlando by considering the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic impacts residents' garden participation and access to green public spaces. The study utilizes an ethnographic approach to produce informed understandings of participants' experiences within local gardens, alternative food networks, and community supported agriculture analyzed using Marxian theoretical frameworks. Findings are primarily grounded in qualitative information derived from interviews, participant observation, and photovoice. Data were collected both prior to the global COVID-19 outbreak and over subsequent months of lockdown and public health mitigation measures. Primarily focusing on local community garden organizers, community garden members, and home gardeners, this dissertation documents many of the emotional, dietary, and physiological benefits of Metro-Orlando's local gardens through analysis of food and garden access factors that serve to constrain or enhance local garden participation: (1) seasonality; (2) effective garden maintenance; (3) garden's management and social organization, and (4) transportation and resource costs. These considerations are significant as most respondents report their gardens function as supplemental food security resources, serve as a locus of self-care, and provide respite from daily stressors. Lack of convenience remains the most widely reported access challenge among my study participants while cost is the least reported challenge. Findings also demonstrate the ways local gardens foster resilience through support networks and mutual aid, promote resistance and survival through community food security, and provide escape from pandemic-related stressors.

This dissertation ethnographically explores the social concerns related to the global, agro-industrial system's impact on many communities' potential for livelihood and health. At the core of this study is the desire to understand the complex and dynamic ways that communities strive to develop, and make sense of, networks that address these wicked problems and to understand how these strategies might aggregate to promote community resiliency. An investigation of alternative food networks (AFNs) was contextualized in one province in Western Turkey. The AFNs were articulated by an ethnographic design that utilized tools from different fields of study. Integrating actor-network theory, new social movements theory, and the nourishing networks framework allowed for robust triangulation of data. I conclude that AFNs in this province are nascent and remain fragmented. At present, AFNs have not been leveraged for community resiliency efforts. However, they hold the seeds of what may become a food sovereignty social movement. This ethnography reveals that the province has assets, including numerous affinity groups, and a durable connection to heritage with strong reverberations of a nature-culture. I illuminate the broad spectrum of submerged and visible actants and actors that prime the AFNs' development. The wide variance creates diffuse and contradictory cultural implications. Actors report they constantly negotiate cultural aspects related to AFNs. They conceptualize this work as a polymorphous phenomenon of fragmented communities and a culture of dependency; but they show fortitude by negotiating multi-phasic actions and multi-vocal resistance messaging. By way of this study I illustrate that their cultural politics take place where economy and identity interface. Actors seek legitimization. They speak of infusing heritage-based ideals into projects. They are firm that agricultural modernization must come from Turkish values. And, they are formulating and strengthening ideological-based discourses. I further clarify their development strategies by showing how AFNs are experimenting with new governance strategies and focusing on social embedding. Promotion of niche markets has begun. However, public and private resources are limited, which hinders the momentum of AFNs. Additional research is needed to better understand the processes for high functioning AFNs in Turkey. / Ph. D. / This study explores the social concerns related to the globalized food system, particularly, the impact on many communities’ potential for food security. At the core of this study is the desire to understand the complex and dynamic ways that communities strive to make sense of and develop networks that address these problems and to understand how these strategies might promote community resiliency. Alternative food networks (AFNs), one way that communities try to secure their food system, was investigated in one province in Western Turkey. I spent 10 months living in the province and interacting in the daily lives of participants. Analytical tools from different fields of study (actor‐network theory, new social movements theory, and the nourishing networks framework) were integrated for data collection, analysis, and reporting. I conclude that AFNs in this province are just coming into existence and remain fragmented. At present, AFNs have not been leveraged for community resiliency efforts. However, they hold the seeds of what may become a food sovereignty social movement. Through this study, I illuminate the broad spectrum of submerged and visible actants and actors (both human and non‐human agents) that prime the AFNs’ development. Actors report they constantly negotiate cultural aspects related to AFNs. I stress the findings that their push to change politics take place where economy and identity interface. I clarify development strategies used by the AFNs, by showing how they are experimenting with new governance strategies and focusing on ways to address social, economic, and environmental connections to food and agriculture. Promotion of niche markets has begun. However, public and private resources are limited, which hinders the momentum of AFNs. Additional research is needed to better understand the processes for high functioning AFNs in Turkey.

A produção e o comércio de alimentos orgânicos mostram-se como um mercado em desenvolvimento, e esse se apresenta como alternativa agrícola com menores externalidades negativas. No entanto, há algum tempo já é indicado um processo de convencionalização que o aproxima de práticas de mercado que ameaçam essa capacidade de preservação do ambiente. Nesse processo aparece a venda através de grandes varejistas. Como alternativa surgem diferentes formas de distribuição de alimentos e a possibilidade de alcançar maiores benefícios para a sociedade e o ambiente. Uma delas é a venda em domicílio através de esquemas de cestas, uma variante em que consumidores adquirem semanalmente uma cesta de produtos orgânicos padronizada, através de meios eletrônicos. Utilizando o arcabouço teórico proposto na Sociologia Econômica, vou investigar através dos empresários, funcionários e consumidores que formam essa rede, os interesses, as relações e sua estrutura para responder como essa nova forma de comércio se enraíza socialmente na cidade de São Paulo. Através de entrevistas realizadas a partir de um roteiro semi-estruturado, é possível entender que o novo canal se estabelece a partir do desejo de consumir alimentos orgânicos. Uma falha de mercado representada pela disponibilidade e qualidade precária na rede convencional e outras formas alternativas, os leva a experimentar esse novo canal. A capacidade de abandonar o hábito de compra convencional (ver, tocar, avaliar) dá lugar a um relacionamento com terceiros que se incubem de escolher por esses consumidores a qualidade dos alimentos que serão levados para casa. Lentamente as trocas comerciais se expandem a sinais de reciprocidade, fortalecendo a confiança. Eventualmente o compartilhamento de valores possibilita influenciar os interesses dos consumidores e torná-los mais conscientes. / The production and trade of organic food are defining a growing market and presenting an alternative supposed to cause less negative externalities. Nevertheless, a conventionalization process has been identified some time ago, what takes it closer to market practices that threat its capacity to preserve the environment. Sales through large retailers is part of this process. As options, different ways to distribute food emerge and represent the possibility to reach more benefits to society and environment. One of them is the home delivery of boxes containing fresh food, the box-schemes. It consists of weekly acquisition of a standard set of organic goods through electronic media. Utilizing the theoretical framework proposed by the Economic Sociology, I have investigated with owners, employees and consumers that are part of this social network, the interests, relationships and structures to answer how this new retail format gets socially embedded in Sao Paulo city. Through interviews based on a semi-structured script, it is possible to understand that this new channel is established from the desire to consume organic food. A market failure that causes poor distribution and quality in conventional network drives them to look for alternatives and try this new channel. The capacity to abandon the conventional buying habitus (see, touch, assess) opens space to establish a new tie with people that will choose the quality of the food to be delivered to their homes. Slowly, commercial exchange expands to reciprocity signals and strengthen trust up to a possible redistribution system. Eventually, values sharing makes possible to influence consumers and make them more conscious.

Alternative food systems (AFS) projects are designed to address issues of environmental justice, food security and insecurity, community health disparities between the affluent and the poor, and access to healthful foods in distressed urban areas. Past research has questioned the efficacy and long-term viability of such interventions, particularly in distressed primarily Black urban areas. The purpose of this intrinsic case study (ICS) was to understand the ways in which local governmental entities collaborated with each other and with nongovernmental partners to help develop an AFS in South Florida through the creation of a market garden called the PATCH. Critical race theory was the framework for addressing the challenges associated with community health, empowerment, and socioeconomic issues pertaining to AFS. A critical case sampling strategy was employed in order to study the selected site. Transcribed data from interviews with 6 key informants, observational notes, and publicly available document searches were coded using a thematic posteriori strategy and analyzed diagrammatically. Results revealed 4 primary drivers for the effective creation of AFS including collaboration and partnerships, community empowerment, community involvement, and the leadership role of government. The concept of transcommunality played an integral role in how these primary drivers could be applied between local governmental and nongovernmental partners. Knowledge gleaned from these results can inform the development of effective community and culturally specific AFS that can help address the disparities that race and socioeconomic status play in providing access to healthful foods in South Florida, thereby creating the basis for positive social change in distressed urban areas.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1787058 bytes, checksum: 9eecdb20460409c66b549cfa0f842314 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-24 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O manejo de habitat, uma abordagem do controle biológico conservativo, o tem como objetivo alterar habitats através da manipula ção de recursos de origem vegetal na paisagem para melhorar a disponibilidade de recursos para os inimigos naturais. As plantas daninhas têm sido amplamente usadas para esse fim em agroecossistemas devido ao seu potencial de fornecer recursos al- ternativos para os inimigos naturais, mesmo quando as densidades de pragas são baixas. No entanto, há uma escassez de informações relativas aos recursos fornecidos por plantas daninhas e suas interações com os inimigos naturais. Para que o manejo de habitat seja uma prática funcional, ́é necessário o conhecimento detalhado do comportamento de forrageamento e da capacidade sensorial de inimigos naturais. A fim de contribuir para esse entendimento, estudei a atratividade e os efeitos de recursos fornecidos pela planta daninha Bidens pilosa, conhecida como picão-preto, utilizando plantas de tomate como a cultura principal, para o predador generalista Cycloneda sanguinea. As fêmeas de C. sanguinea são capazes de reconhecer os sinais químicos do picão-preto, mas elas não discriminam entre os estímulos do picão-preto ou das plantas de tomate. No campo, a ocorrência de C. sanguinea no picão-preto não depende da presença de pulgoẽs e isso só é evolutivamente estável a se a joaninha obtém vantagens da visita na planta. Os recursos alternativos fornecidos pelo picão-preto e pelas plantas de tomate, em conjunto ou não, não afetou a taxa de oviposição de C. sanguinea, tanto na presença quanto na ausência de pulgões. Entretanto, uma dieta com apenas os recursos fornecidos pelas plantas testadas aqui não é suficiente para promover a a sua oviposição. Porém, estes recursos podem aumentar a sobrevivência de casais de joaninhas adultas de forma significativa. A sobrevivência de C. e sanguinea foi significativamente maior na combinação picão-preto e plantas de tomate do que no tomate sozinho, mas não foi diferente do picão-preto somente. Concluindo, C. sanguinea pode usar pistas químicas do picão-preto durante o forrageamento e os recursos oferecidos pela planta podem permitir que este predador persista no campo quando os recursos-presa são escassos, o que pode levar a uma melhora na sua eficiência como agente de controle e biológico. / Habitat management is a conservation biological control approach that aims to alter habitats through manipulating plant-based resources in the landscape to increase the availability of resources for natural enemies. Weed commu- nities have been adopted for habitat management in agroecosystems due to their potential to supply food resources to natural enemies, even when pest densities are low. However, there is a paucity of information pertaining to the resources provided by non-crop weeds and their interactions with natural enemies. To make the management of non-crop weeds a functional practice, detailed knowledge of the behavior and sensory ability of natural enemies is necessary. In order to contribute to such understanding, I studied the attrac- tiveness and the effects of resources provided by the weed hairy beggarticks (non-crop), using tomato plant as the main crop, on the generalist predator Cycloneda sanguinea. I found that C. sanguinea females are able to recognize cues from hairy beggarticks but they do not discriminate between cues from hairy beggarticks or tomato plants. In the field, the occurrence of C. san- guinea on hairy beggarticks plants does not depend on the presence of aphids and it is only evolutionary stable if the ladybird gains advantage from visiting the plant. The alternative resources provided by the hairy beggarticks and tomato plants, either together or separate, did not affect the oviposition rate of C. sanguinea, both in the presence and absence of aphid prey. Hence, a diet with only the resources provided by the plants is not enough to promote their oviposition. Nevertheless, these resources were found to increase adult survivorship significantly. Survival of C. sanguinea was significantly higher on the combination of tomato plants plus hairy beggarticks than on tomato plants alone but was not different from hairy beggarticks alone. Concluding, C. sanguinea can use cues from hairy beggarticks when foraging and the re- sources offered by plants may allow them to persist in the field when prey resources are scarce which might improve its efficiency as biological control agent.

The diploma dissertation deals with farm box home delivery which is world widespread form of an alternative food system. The main aim of this dissertation was to identify the subjects involved in farm box distribution and make a survey on experiences with this form of business - afterwards to define the consumers´ attitude to this way of distribution.