Silvana Signori and Francesca Forno
The purpose of this paper is to draw on the theoretical framework based on grassroots social innovation niches to analyse how and to what extent participation in consumer groups…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to draw on the theoretical framework based on grassroots social innovation niches to analyse how and to what extent participation in consumer groups helps to foster food-related sustainability changes (both at individual, niche and potentially regime levels).
Design/methodology/approach
The data have been collected via two online questionnaires: 204 consumer groups (named GAS, from the acronym of Gruppi di Acquisto Solidale) and 1,658 families belonging to the same groups participated in the research.
Findings
The findings reveal that participation in GAS not only makes individuals more responsible towards their consumption choices and lifestyles, but also makes consumers more willing to collaborate with others, more interested in politics (especially local politics) and increases their sense of social effectiveness.
Social implications
The paper shows how collective consumption can represent a way to increase and foster sustainable behaviours, with the potential to modify socio-economic regimes. Interesting implications are advanced on the relationship between consumers and mainly local and small-scale food producers and on local public governments’ policies.
Originality/value
Due to the very high number of respondents, this research represents a unique opportunity to observe a phenomenon which is difficult to study with surveys and questionnaires because of its informal nature. Understanding the mechanisms and processes that give rise and sustain such forms of collective action is highly relevant for finding ways to promote grassroots initiatives and community actions, which are an often neglected area of system-changing innovation towards sustainability.
Details
Keywords
Stefan Wahlen, Francesca Forno and Mikko Laamanen
The article examines the experiences of local activists involved in the food movement scene in Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, with the objective of comparing strategies in…
Abstract
The article examines the experiences of local activists involved in the food movement scene in Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, with the objective of comparing strategies in localising food movement politics and seeking scale for collective action through institutions. Specifically, it delves into the grassroots-driven, bottom-up development of food policies by neo-materialist movement organisations (NMMOs) asking why food has become a central focus, what these organisations do and who participates, and how and why strategies for working with local institutions are implemented. Success in food movements, as in other social change efforts, often depends on experimenting with different approaches to generating interest and expanding the movement among consumers. At the same time, activists emphasise the need to change the food system, typically by promoting the benefits of local produce and fostering connections between producers and consumers. These connections serve as a vital resource for collective action, as food allows movements to easily mobilise and engage with consumers' values and beliefs. Through a comparative analysis of local food activism across Bristol, Cologne and Rome, the study elucidates that while each context grapples with distinct challenges, such as reconciling administrative tensions in Rome or negotiating financial constraints and bureaucratic intricacies in Bristol and Cologne, all underscore the pivotal role of collaborative engagement with local authorities as a catalyst for effecting change in food systems and beyond.