Varieties of food democracy: a systematic literature review

ABSTRACT

The concept of food democracy has been developed to articulate norms and ideals of democracy as a counterpressure to ‘food control’ from concentrated and transnational corporate power in the agri-food system. Yet to date, a comprehensive overview is missing to identify the various elements and dimensions of food democracy conceptualizations and to reflect on what exactly is democratic about food democracy. To address this gap, a systematic literature review was conducted to assess consensus, common and outlying dimensions of food democracy conceptualizations and the epistemological synergies and struggles around different understandings of democracy in the research field. Analysis uncovers more than 20 different food democracy dimensions, the most common of which (deliberation, knowledge democracy, food choice, civic co-planning, rights protection) diverge along two predominant schools of thought, epistemological positions and strategies for change: first, food democracy as a process of open and inclusive public deliberation in participatory settings; second, food democracy as the protection of individual rights, liberties and private (consumer) freedom. Through the lens of varied democracy perspectives, we discuss implications for further development of food democracy in research, policy and agri-food systems interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Food citizens
• local food
• public participation
• food movements
• democracy traditions

Acknowledgments

Julia Behringer’s research was supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), ref. no. 57299294, and the Graduate Program of the Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2023.2191859

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julia Behringer

Julia Behringer Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, is a Doctoral Candidate in the Agricultural and Food Policy Group. Julia holds an M.A. in Environment and Development Studies from King’s College London and previously worked at the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International in the UK and Switzerland. She is a recipient of the German Chancellor’s Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and a doctoral scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service. Her primary research interests include citizen participation, democracy theory, climate, environmental and agricultural transitions and sustainable diets. She is Co-Founder of the Food & Democracy Doctoral Research Cluster and Associate Member of FoodBerlin.

Peter H. Feindt

Peter H. Feindt Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, is Professor of Agricultural and Food Policy. He previously held senior positions at the University of Hamburg, Cardiff University and Wageningen University. His research interests include agricultural and food policy, environmental policy, sustainability transitions, resilience of farming systems, public participation and conflict management, policy discourse and narratives. Peter is chair of the Scientific Advisory Council for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources at the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Agricultural and Food Policy at the same ministry. He is member of the board of the German Agricultural Research Alliance (DAFA), honorary editor of the Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning and member of the German Bioeconomy Council.