Session 2.1
Economic viability and alternative food futures
3rd November (Tuesday)
1 hour
New York 05:00
Buenos Aires 07:00
Amsterdam 11:00
Nairobi 13:00
Bangkok 17:00
Warrane-Sydney 21:00
Aotearoa-NZ 23:00
Organiser: Anna Roodhof
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Abstract
In this session, I would like to discuss how economic diversity can gain broader recognition as economically viable within alternative food systems. Rather than defining viability solely in terms of financial profitability, I am interested in approaches that consider the well-being and livelihoods of both human and more-than-human participants in agri-food systems.
During my PhD research, I frequently encountered criticism of food forests, a form of agriculture that emerged partly as a critique of capitalist food production. Yet when food forest initiatives fail to meet conventional capitalist measures of success, they are often judged by those same standards. While food forests and other alternative food initiatives certainly face challenges — including questions of inclusion, accessibility, and governance — meaningful discussions about supporting alternative food futures require a broader understanding of economic viability than profitability alone.
I would like to open a conversation about how we can develop and communicate postcapitalist understandings of economic viability, and how others have navigated critiques of economic (in)viability in their own research or practice related to alternative food systems.
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