Local Foods Research Project

The primary research question is this:

How is ‘the local’ constructed as a space of opposition and empowerment in alternative food networks?

By asking this question, I hope to draw out some of the ways in which the local and localism are expressed in alternative food networks, and to explore how a space which is designated as local can be assigned values and expectations which can be both emotional and political. In doing so, I wish to examine how the assessments of alternative food network localism expressed in academic literature are reflected in practice in the UK.

In order to approach this question, I have also posed a series of sub-questions:

• How is ‘the local’ defined?
• How important is ‘the local’ in constructing an alternative food network?
• How have everyday experiences of a local food system changed lifestyles?