The political economy of food systems reform

Abstract

Modern food systems as they have developed over the past half-century are unsustainable: their health and environmental impacts, as well as their failure to reduce rural poverty in developing countries and the power imbalances in food chains, are a concern to a growing number of activists. However, the mainstream system is highly path-dependent, and resistant to reform. Change can be expected neither from government action, nor from business initiatives alone, and grassroots innovations led by ordinary people have a limited impact. Only by connecting these different pathways for reform by food democracy can lasting food systems reform be achieved.