research :: introduction

Introduction

‘Alternative food networks’ is a term used to describe networks of food production, distribution and consumption which have emerged as alternatives to ‘conventional’ food systems in recent years.

Many people, both food producers and consumers, have become increasingly uncomfortable with conventional food systems, as their negative social, environmental and economic effects have become apparent. Farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture, veg box schemes, community food projects are examples of alternative food network (AFN) projects that aim to offer alternatives to agri-industrial food production and supermarket-dominated distribution and retail.

Central to the alternative food politics underlying these projects is a commitment to localism. This term refers to a preference for building local food systems, building connections between producers and consumers close to home, rather than purchasing food from the other side of the world, in the impersonal space of the supermarket.

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Research Questions

This research examined the idea that ‘local’ food is intrinsically better than ‘non-local’ food, and worked around this question:

What role does localism play as a political strategy in alternative food politics?

So what does ‘local’ mean? It is widely accepted that scalar terms (such as ‘local’, ‘regional’, ‘global’) do not have fixed meanings, but are used in different ways by different people, often assuming different meanings and implications. For example, ‘local’ in one context would refer to your immediate neighbourhood, and in another (for example, the 100 Mile Diet) to a much larger area. In this way, scalar terms are described as socially constructed.

This research, therefore, proceeded with the assumption that within the local foods movement, there might be many different understandings of what ‘local’ is, and why ‘local’ is better than ‘non-local’.

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The Case Study

Map of Fife

The research worked with people and organizations involved in local food activism in Fife, an area of Scotland between the Forth and Tay estuaries immediately north of Edinburgh.

Participants included producers involved in the direct marketing of their produce, organizers of the Fife Farmers’ Markets, local government, business organizations, the organizers of community food projects, and consumer groups experimenting with eating a ‘Fife Diet‘.

Interested? Find out more about the background to research by following these links:

The Theory - what areas of geographical theory and literature does this research contribute to?

Methodological Approach - what ideas about research methods underpinned the research?

Personal Background – why did I choose to research local foods?

or continue to read about the results of the research…

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Presentation of Research

The research project was presented at the Postgraduate Conference of the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh in March 2008. Click here (or the image) to see the slides from the presentation.

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Downloads

Local Foods Research Project Consent Form [pdf]

All participants signed a copy of the consent form to demonstrate that they agree to participate in the research. This is a requirement of any research carried out at the University of Edinburgh.

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Local Foods Research Project Information Sheet [pdf]

This form provides information about the research in a printed format, and was provided to all  participants. Provision of printed information about the research is also a requirement for any research carried out at the University of Edinburgh.

These forms can be downloaded here for information purposes. Please do not reproduce without permission.