Changing Food Supply Chains: The Role of Citizens and Civil Society Organizations in Working Towards a Social Economy

Abstract

This chapter discusses the role of citizens and civil society organizations in a social economy and their capabilities to influence food supply chains. Using detailed case studies to analyse the exploitation of immigrant workers in agriculture as well as the response of civil society organizations, the chapter outlines potential contributions by Solidarity Purchasing Groups to the development of the Foundational Economy. In order to do so, it reviews the role of Alternative Food Networks such as Farmer’s Markets and Solidarity Purchase Groups in local food supplies; it also argues that Foundational Economy thinking proposes a trans-scalar approach from the local to the national territory for food supply chains. Finally, it underlines how this approach could be useful for the development of policies to support international urban food programs.