Paper short abstract:

This case study explores how Alternative Food Networks in Guadalajara, Mexico, promote food sovereignty for urban campesinos and marginalized communities. Our research approach uses stakeholder interviews and literature review to uncover novel perspectives on the transformation of food systems.

Paper long abstract:

In Guadalajara, Mexico, more than 30% of residents grapple with food insecurity, directly impacting health, education, and economic potential. The conventional agricultural industry, known for its exports of corn, avocados, and agave, is expanding its economic and ecological footprint, placing an ever greater strain on small farms the region depends on. Our case study explores the transformative approach Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) take to promote food sovereignty and address the complexity of food security in Guadalajara.

We are employing an ethnographic, qualitative research approach through 25 field interviews with producers, distributors, government officials, and experts from local academic institutions. This locally driven approach is supported by a comprehensive literature review, encompassing scholarly and grey sources, to enhance our understanding of the local context and relevant issues.

Our research to date suggests that AFNs are collaborative relationships formed among actors within local agri-food systems that challenge conventional agro-industrial practices. They are characterized by their locality, embeddedness, and short-supply chains with a strong emphasis on community sustainability and resilience. We are interested in uncovering accounts of how urban and peri-urban campesinos are actively disrupting conventional food systems through AFNs, and the ways in which these networks improve food sovereignty and the well-being of marginalized communities. In doing so, our research aims to address the pressing issue of food insecurity in an agriculture-dependent region.

Driven by an interdisciplinary team of researchers, our work offers a multidimensional perspective on transforming food systems and develops insights that can be leveraged for marginalized communities globally.