FASS-Food research explores how alternative food systems – particularly, short and collaborative food chain initiatives – at the local level develop and work to establish healthy, sustainable and fair food systems. This is done through a multiple case study analysis of 3 initiatives of short and collaborative food chain initiatives in Greece, Italy and Belgium. Framed as participatory research, this project work with members of short and collaborative food chain communities in the above-mentioned countries to understand, analyse and propose solutions to the main challenges that they face in scaling up and strengthening their model, to facilitate exchange of know-how and create a space of transnational dialogue and inter-disciplinary co-construction of policies and interventions. Therefore, beside interviews and focus groups with local actors within each of the three national case study initiatives (bottom-up perspective), we also gather information with EU-level policy-makers in order to understand what are the policy enablers (or blockers) that facilitate (or hamper) the establishment and consolidation of healthy, sustainable and fair food systems in Europe (top-down perspective). The designed of the research project combines thus a bottom-up and top-down approaches:
- Bottom-up approach – the research team conducted a multiple case-study analysis of 3 short and collaborative food systems initiatives in Belgium (Kort’om Leuven), Italy (Solidale Italiano) and Greece (Syn Allois). The analysis of these 3 initiatives followed a participatory research approach aimed at proposing solutions to the main challenges they face in scaling up and strengthening their model, facilitating the exchange of know-how and creating a space of transnational dialogue and inter-disciplinary co-construction of policies and interventions. To that end, upon one kick-off meeting, relevant members and stakeholders of each initiative were interviewed (respectively 8 for Kort’om Leuven, 9 for Solidale Italiano, 8 for Syn Allois). The interviews were subsequently transcribed, examined, and coded, leading to the identification of 6 relevant analytical dimensions for each case study: targeted problems, implemented solutions, involved stakeholders, available resources, challenges and prospects.
- Top-down approach – the research team organised 2 workshops with EU-level stakeholders (e.g. European Commission, Fair Trade associations, European Coops associations) to identify policy blockers and enablers. Policy enablers refer to those policy elements (e.g. EU legislation and spending programs) that facilitate the establishment and consolidation of healthy, sustainable and fair food systems in Europe, whereas policy blockers hamper it.