| Item Type |
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
|
| Abstract |
The future of food is a topic that is controversially discussed in a wide range of sectors and settings, including academia, industry, government, international organisations, social movements, peasant organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In this paper I focus on yet another sector that contributes to debates on the future of food: food start-ups. I examine a growing number of sustainable food innovations that are currently developed by a vanguard of entrepreneurs, who aim to transform the way we produce and consume food. What is particularly interesting about these start-ups is how they present their products or services as market-based solutions to achieve a sustainable food future. In this respect food start-ups often display an ethos of social entrepreneurship. They employ entrepreneurial techniques to develop, fund and implement social and environmental issues crystallised in debates on food security. The aim of this paper is to explore this development based on a study of Swiss food start-ups engaged in sustainable food innovation. Drawing on interviews with founders and a textual analysis of company websites and other published material, I consider a) the products and promises in detail, b) their ‘novelty’ in comparison to alternative food networks’ efforts to achieve sustainable food futures (Counihan and Siniscalchi, 2014; Goodman et al., 2014; Grasseni, 2013) and c) how sustainability is enacted in each of the start-ups and their products. Ultimately, my paper contributes to important debates in food studies on the mainstreaming of alternative food. |
| Authors |
Schneider, Tanja |
| Projects |
Schneider, Dr. Tanja
(2017)
Venture food: A sociological study of venture capital, #foodtech innovation and the future of food
[fundamental research project]
|
| Language |
English |
| Subjects |
social sciences |
| HSG Classification |
contribution to scientific community |
| HSG Profile Area |
SHSS - Kulturen, Institutionen, Maerkte (KIM) |
| Date |
30 August 2017 |
| Event Title |
RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2017 |
| Event Location |
Royal Geographic Society, London, UK |
| Event Dates |
29 August - 1 September 2017 |
| Official URL |
http://conference.rgs.org/AC2017/54439960-cf64-4cf... |
| Depositing User |
Prof. Ph.D Tanja Schneider
|
| Date Deposited |
08 Sep 2017 13:16 |
| Last Modified |
20 Jul 2022 17:31 |
| URI: |
https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/publications/251593 |
Making a difference? Sustainable food innovation between alternative food networks and start-ups
