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Going Plant-Forward? Dietary Publics and Plant-Based Lifestyle Advocacy in Contemporary China

Song Lopez, Gina LU orcid (2026) In Asian Studies Review
Abstract
A growing body of research has examined the rise of civil society efforts to green China’s food system, and this article contributes to such discussions by examining the case of plant-based food and lifestyle advocacy. Amid emerging paradoxes in China’s food production and consumption trends, examining individuals and groups who promote distinct diets such as veganism offers new insights into civil society’s engagement with sustainability transitions. Drawing on an ethnographic approach that combines digital food studies with onsite fieldwork, this study highlights China’s contemporary dietary publics and their overlapping discursive and mobilisation dynamics through four dimensions of advocacy pertaining to education, culture,... (More)
A growing body of research has examined the rise of civil society efforts to green China’s food system, and this article contributes to such discussions by examining the case of plant-based food and lifestyle advocacy. Amid emerging paradoxes in China’s food production and consumption trends, examining individuals and groups who promote distinct diets such as veganism offers new insights into civil society’s engagement with sustainability transitions. Drawing on an ethnographic approach that combines digital food studies with onsite fieldwork, this study highlights China’s contemporary dietary publics and their overlapping discursive and mobilisation dynamics through four dimensions of advocacy pertaining to education, culture, exploration, and innovation. It finds that a diverse range of actors are effectively coming together under the umbrella of a Plant-Forward Movement, which while predominantly vegan, also encompasses vegetarian and flexitarian practices. Operating in a socio-cultural context in which reducing meat consumption is challenging, these actors occupy a distinct niche within China’s Green Public Sphere. This underscores their potential to drive social transitions towards greener diets and lifestyles. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Abstract in Chinese:
摘要

在中国食品生产与消费趋势呈现多重矛盾的背景下, 考察推广特定饮食方式 (如植物性饮食) 的个体与群体, 有助于深化对民间社会在可持续转型中所扮演角色的理解。本文采用结合数字食物研究与实地民族志的研究方法, 聚焦当代中国的“饮食公众” (dietary publics) 及其话语实践与动员机制的交织互动, 并从教育, 文化, 探索与创新四个倡议维度展开分析。研究发现, 不同类型的行动者正在以“植物领先运动” (Plant-forward Movement) 的框架下形成多元联盟。该运动虽以全植物性饮食为核心, 同时也涵盖蛋奶素与弹性素食等实践形态。这些行动者在中国的“绿色公共领域” (Green Public Sphere) 中占据独特位置, 展现出推动社会向更绿色饮食与生活方式转型的潜在动能与意义。
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
China, Veganism, plant-based, Civil Society, Social movements, Sustainability
in
Asian Studies Review
pages
20 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
ISSN
1035-7823
DOI
10.1080/10357823.2025.2597990
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ea5edf15-edb3-4928-a863-5b9514f84929
date added to LUP
2026-01-23 09:54:19
date last changed
2026-02-04 12:42:02
@article{ea5edf15-edb3-4928-a863-5b9514f84929,
  abstract     = {{A growing body of research has examined the rise of civil society efforts to green China’s food system, and this article contributes to such discussions by examining the case of plant-based food and lifestyle advocacy. Amid emerging paradoxes in China’s food production and consumption trends, examining individuals and groups who promote distinct diets such as veganism offers new insights into civil society’s engagement with sustainability transitions. Drawing on an ethnographic approach that combines digital food studies with onsite fieldwork, this study highlights China’s contemporary dietary publics and their overlapping discursive and mobilisation dynamics through four dimensions of advocacy pertaining to education, culture, exploration, and innovation. It finds that a diverse range of actors are effectively coming together under the umbrella of a Plant-Forward Movement, which while predominantly vegan, also encompasses vegetarian and flexitarian practices. Operating in a socio-cultural context in which reducing meat consumption is challenging, these actors occupy a distinct niche within China’s Green Public Sphere. This underscores their potential to drive social transitions towards greener diets and lifestyles.}},
  author       = {{Song Lopez, Gina}},
  issn         = {{1035-7823}},
  keywords     = {{China; Veganism; plant-based; Civil Society; Social movements; Sustainability}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Asian Studies Review}},
  title        = {{Going Plant-Forward? Dietary Publics and Plant-Based Lifestyle Advocacy in Contemporary China}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10357823.2025.2597990}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/10357823.2025.2597990}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}