Paper short abstract:

Central in sustainable food systems lie economic and social relations based care, reciprocity, and solidarity for people and nature. We show that affects are key in attracting and entangling people in these new relations, and argue that researchers can play a role to support this.

Paper long abstract:

Sustainable or agroecological food systems have been defined as those that enhance biodiversity, conserve natural resources, and contribute to people's health and to social justice. At the heart of agroecological food systems lie economic and social relations that are based not on maximizing profit and production, but on care, reciprocity, and solidarity for people and non-human others. While studies have been conducted on how these type of relations are embodied in solidary markets and alternative farming practices, much less attention has been paid to the role of affects in attracting people to, and entangling them in, these new relations. Using the notion of affective atmospheres, we illustrate how spaces where farmers and their organizations meet with one another, with diverse groups of citizens, and with other movements are important in maintaining and expanding agroecological food systems. We also show how action research can be used to support this.