The solution cannot be conventionalized: Protecting the alterity of fairer and more sustainable food networks

The environmental, health, social justice and socio-economic challenges related to food production and consumption that have been extensively discussed in the literature, can be considered merely symptoms of a dysfunctional system. In contrast, in this chapter I argue that one of the biggest challenges of all facing the food system is in fact the continuous co-optation of potential solutions by the dominant regime, which perpetuates current dynamics and suffocates sustainable alternatives. This chapter discusses solution-based strategies ideated by actors operating in alternative food networks; their aim is to fight the marketization of social justice and ecological public health ideals and practices by and for the benefit of industrial food regimes. A layered framework to analyze these strategies is proposed around four interconnected categories: rediscovering new allies, fostering diversity, rethinking access to resources while redefining success and democratizing knowledge production. The four strategies come together as a solution to address two key challenges to fairer and more sustainable food systems: lack of diversity in conventional food relations and risk of co-optation of alternative practices.