Open AccessTHE ECONOMIC PAMPHLETEER: Local foods: Seeds for social change
Author(s) -
John Ikerd
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of agriculture, food systems, and community development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2152-0798
pISSN - 2152-0801
DOI - 10.5304/jafscd.2021.103.002
Subject(s) - industrialisation , context (archaeology) , food systems , socioeconomic status , business , economic growth , political science , economics , food security , agriculture , environmental health , geography , market economy , medicine , population , archaeology
The local food movement has grown in direct response to the industrialization of the agri-food system—and more recently in response to the industrialization of organic foods. Locavores seem to have an intuitive understanding that the environmental and public health problems associated with industrial food production must be solved within the socioeconomic context of local communities. Similarly, the problems of social justice cannot be solved without addressing the larger environmental and public health problems of society. Systemic problems require systemic change, which is rarely quick and never easy. However, local community-based food systems can provide fertile seedbeds of systemic social change.