From surplus and scarcity towards abundance: Understanding the use of ICT in food resource sharing practices

Abstract

Food practices have become an important context for questions around sustainability. Within HCI, Sustainable HCI and Human-Food-Interaction have developed as a response. We argue, nevertheless, that food practices as a social activity remain relatively under-examined and further that sustainable food practices hinge on communal activity. We present the results of action-oriented research with a grassroots movement committed to sustainable food practices at a local, communal level, thereby demonstrating the role of ICT in making food resource sharing a viable practice. We suggest that the current focus on food sharing might usefully be supplemented by attention to food resource sharing, an approach that aligns with a paradigm shift from surplus to abundance. We argue for design that aims to encourage food resource sharing at a local level but that also has wider ramifications. These ‘glocal’ endeavors recognize the complexity of prosumption practices and foster aspirations for ‘deep change’ in food systems.