Guest editorial Controversy and sustainability for geographical indications and localized agro-food systems: thinking about a dynamic link "Let's go back to the field" could have been another subtitle for this special section, which aims to consider and recognize local agro-food systems as complex and dynamic networks. However, the same expression could also be used to illustrate the background for this special section: Let'sfirstgo back to the field through two illustrations based on localized food product controversies in international food media discourses. Illustration 1: The Parmesan "wood pulp controversy" In an article by Dana Hatic titled "That Shredded Parmesan in Your Fridge Might Actually Be Wood, Says the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act", published on 16 February 2016 on the website Eater[1], we can read: "The FDA determined that the company's '100 percent Parmesan cheese' included such fillers as wood pulp, cellulose, and cheddarbut no actual Parmesan. The company's president is scheduled to plead guilty to criminal charges this month and could get a year in prison and a $100,000 fine" (Hatic, 2016). Different sources indicate that retailers would stop selling this product and that consumers are confused, but a 21st February 2016 article published on the website DairyReporter[2] notes: "Shredded Parmesan market growing despite wood pulp controversy". Author Douglas Yu wrote: "After various media outlets reported that much of the shredded 100% Parmesan cheese in the US contains wood pulp this past week, sources told DairyReporter that the shredded Parmesan cheese is safe, and that the market will continue to grow" (Yu, 2016).