Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This study aims to explore contemporary initiatives to establish local food systems in Sweden. How and why people take initiatives to establish local food systems are investigated. Of concern is how people justify their actions and which values, ideas and beliefs they act from. The study is based on empirical studies of the association Kärngårdar, the network Mykorriza and the web based forum alternativ.nu. Interview studies have been conducted on the small scale organic farm Ramsjö and the smallholding Arvidstorp. Ideas, values and beliefs connected to quality of life, finding alternatives to the present economic and bureaucratic system, aiming for sustainability and sharing of knowledge are expressed by the actors. The chosen cases are put in context of related research. Theories about social movements are applied to discuss the initiatives taken from a social movement perspective. The movement for local food systems is described as broad, fragmented and diverse, opposing the dominant industrial food systems and surrounded by a social current favouring local food systems.