Practicing Fair and Sustainable Local Food Systems: Elements of Food Citizenship in the Simeto River Valley

Abstract

This paper examines a community-based food system which emerged recently around the Simeto River Valley Agreement (SRA) in Sicily (Italy) through the lens of food citizenship. The concept of food citizenship develops an understanding of how food systems function to ensure that individuals and communities have agency, access, and engagement with their food. It allows for comparative analysis between global/industrial and community/alternative systems. This paper follows a methodological integration between action research and a case study approach. The action research process produced a networked governance structure derived from multiple initiatives which are currently initiating many thematic projects—amongst them, a local food system. Results indicate that formalizing governance structures derived from self-organizing behavior have led to an inclusive platform with a shared vision and goals. The governing structures, however, require continued efforts and capacity to engage collaboratively in implementing their strategic plans. Findings suggest that actors developing a food citizenship-focused system should (1) consider how the governance organizational structure enables fluid communication among members and leads to building trust, (2) seek alternatives to engage youth (especially in rural areas) and promote citizen engagement, and (3) develop strategies to seek technical and programmatic support for initiatives. These three aspects are key features which may be adapted to other such efforts in sustainable and local food systems. The complex networked approach to governance presented here and the shared vision for sustainability are considered key elements in fostering a successful alternative food system with the fundamentals of food citizenship at its core.

Role of Agriculture on Rural Household Food Security: A Systematic Review from Indonesia

“…Some studies indicate a decline in household diets in terms of quality and quantity due to limited food stocks and price inflation in the market. However, optimizing agricultural land productivity can enhance household food security and economic aspects [45,46].…”

“…If the food supply is insufficient to meet demand, it can result in hunger or an increase in the level of hunger within the society. Countries experiencing low agricultural land productivity may need to import more food to meet the needs of their population [43,46].…”

Youth's (Un)willingness to work in agriculture sector

“…Meanwhile, the youth tend to migrate from rural to urban areas ( 9 , 10 ), and the agriculture sector is naturally facing the challenge of unemployment. Furthermore, high levels of unemployment lead young people out of rural areas ( 11 ). Youth unemployment in agriculture is one of the crucial questions related to development of agriculture sector, rural areas, communities, etc.…”

How Are Rural Youths’ Agricultural Skills? Empirical Results and Implications in Southwest China

“…Developing countries such as China [7], India [1], Brazil [8], and Tanzania [9] are also facing the problem of aging agricultural labor forces to varying degrees. Therefore, how to retain rural youths' involvement in agriculture has become a worldwide concern of policymakers and scholars [6,10].…”

“…The term 'peasant' is being used by some youth to describe a person who is not fashionable and does not accept new knowledge, which is evidence of their resistance to agricultural production [21]. Studies show that the average age of Chinese peasants is about 50 [10,22]. Such an aging agricultural labor force further reduces agricultural income and, at the same time, leads to a significant amount of abandoned farmland [23,24].…”