From food-chainS to
food networkS
Because we believe in real food as a collaborative commons.
“We envision interconnected regional food networks, centered around food as collaborative commons, replacing commercialised food systems.“
TRADITIONAL FOOD CHAINs (market driven)
VS FOOD NETWORK MODELS (inter-relationship driven)
Food as a Commodity
Food as a Commodity follows Food Chain Model that focuses on the flow of materials or objects through a sequence of steps, emphasizing movement and transformation through a series of stages that are often ordered and linear.
Food as a Commons
Food as a Collaborative Commons follows Food Network Model that focuses on the interrelationships among diverse nodes in the operation and control of the food and nutrition system.
Why Commons?
The social construction of food as a commodity, in fact, denies its non-economic attributes,
- as vital fuel for our bodies
- as a human right (Art 25)
- as a product of nature
- or as an element of our culture
in favour of an exclusive focus on its tradable features, such as its external appearance and packaging, taste, or shelf-life, but first and foremost, its price and calorie content. (Source: Routledge Handbook of Food as a Commons)
Because food is a resource to be taken care together as humans, to address the above mentioned non-economic attributes of food, we build this vision to contribute transformation towards sustainable food systems through food network model.
OUR FOOD NETWORK MODELS
We map successful food network models, promote them and facilitate their replication around the globe. In doing so, we accelerate the bottom-up transition towards equitable and resilient food systems and contribute to achieving UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 12.
mass catering
The mass catering model connects producers with a central kitchen where the products are cooked and distributed as menus to satellite canteens and catering services. At the centre of this model, a private company assumes the key role of net-weaver by establishing the corresponding relationships. The more the producers and consumers are actively involved as co-owners in the company structure and decision-making processes, the closer the model corresponds to the vision of food as a collaborative commons.
Examples:
- Sarvaguna Foods and Kitchen, a mass catering social business in Pokhara, Nepal: www.sarvagunakitchen.com
food hub
A food hub is a centralised facility that serves as a distribution point for locally produced food within a specific geographic region. At the centre of this model is a community organisation or an NGO assuming the key role of net-weaver by establishing the corresponding relationships. Crucial to this model are strong shared values focused on sustainability, resilience, healthy products and local farming.
Examples:
- The Good Acre, the largest food hub in Minnesota, US: www.thegoodacre.org
food coop
At the centre of this model is a food cooperative organised by a group of consumers assuming the key role of net-weaver by establishing the corresponding relationships. Crucial to this model are rural-urban connections, the absence of profit margins, voluntarism, solidarity between farmers and consumers, direct marketing and transparency. A food cooperation can be considered as a practice of commoning.
Examples:
- POT, farmer-to-consumer cooperatives network in Switzerland: www.pot.ch
public procurement
An enabling public procurement policy has great potential to transform food supply. At the centre of this model is a government agency adapting a public procurement policy and assuming the key role of net weaver, building relationships by establishing rules and values. Crucial to this model is the public interest of the government institution taking the lead on food security issues to provide better livelihoods for smallholder farmers and strengthen the resilience of local food systems, especially in the fast-growing cities.
Examples:
- Manifesto for the establishment of minimum mandatory criteria for public canteens across the EU:
https://buybetterfood.eu/documents/sustainable-food-procurement-manifesto
OUR OFFERS
Do you want to initiative your own food network model in your community? Are you a stakeholder or policy maker looking for practical solutions to make our food systems more sustainable? We are here to support!
Education
We work as lecturers, facilitators/speakers in forums and events to raise awareness on food network models, social sustainability in food systems and food as collaborative commons. We map best practices and communicate about their concepts and insight wherever relevant. We established “WorldSchool.catering” with a program that includes dual-vocational education and training on ‘professional chef on mass catering’.
Consulting
We support companies and initiatives in their sustainability transformation. We facilitate entrepreneurs and initiators in the replication of models around food networks, also establishing vocational training in local networks. We also actively participate in interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research together with like-minded partners.
contact us
Do you want to know more? Are you interested in collaborating with us? Contact us now!