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‘Everyone is welcome’? Exploring social inclusion challenges in Alternative Food Networks: Insights from Community Supported Agriculture in Southern Germany

Wöhrstein, Malin LU (2025) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20251
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract (German)
Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) werden in politischen, akademischen und zivilgesellschaftlichen Diskursen zunehmend als Wege zu nachhaltigen und sozial gerechten Lebensmittelsystemen hervorgehoben. Ihre demografische Homogenität wirft jedoch Fragen hinsichtlich ihrer Fähigkeit zur Förderung sozialer Inklusion auf. Diese Studie untersucht, wie Initiativen der Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Süddeutschland mit den Spannungen zwischen solidarischen Idealen und den praktischen Realitäten einer inklusiven Teilhabe umgehen. Basierend auf halbstrukturierten Interviews mit zehn CSA-Praktiker*innen und analysiert unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Lebensmittelgerechtigkeit (Food Justice) zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass Inklusion hauptsächlich in... (More)
Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) werden in politischen, akademischen und zivilgesellschaftlichen Diskursen zunehmend als Wege zu nachhaltigen und sozial gerechten Lebensmittelsystemen hervorgehoben. Ihre demografische Homogenität wirft jedoch Fragen hinsichtlich ihrer Fähigkeit zur Förderung sozialer Inklusion auf. Diese Studie untersucht, wie Initiativen der Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Süddeutschland mit den Spannungen zwischen solidarischen Idealen und den praktischen Realitäten einer inklusiven Teilhabe umgehen. Basierend auf halbstrukturierten Interviews mit zehn CSA-Praktiker*innen und analysiert unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Lebensmittelgerechtigkeit (Food Justice) zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass Inklusion hauptsächlich in wirtschaftlicher Hinsicht verstanden wird, während kulturelle und soziale Barrieren oft übersehen werden. Strukturelle Zwänge, darunter der dominante Marktdruck und politische Lücken, schränken die Fähigkeit von CSAs, Inklusion zu priorisieren, zusätzlich ein. Dennoch entwickeln einige CSAs schrittweise Strategien und zeigen damit ihr Engagement, diese Herausforderungen innerhalb der bestehenden Grenzen anzugehen. Die Verwirklichung von Food Justice durch AFNs erfordert daher nicht nur verbesserte organisatorische Praktiken, sondern auch systemische politische Unterstützung. (Less)
Abstract
Alternative food networks are increasingly promoted in policy, academic, and civil society discourses as pathways to sustainable and socially just food systems. However, their demographic homogeneity raises questions about their capacity to foster social inclusion. This study explores how Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in Southern Germany navigate tensions between solidaritybased ideals and the practical realities of inclusive participation. Based on semi-structured interviews with ten CSA practitioners and analysed through a food justice lens, findings show that inclusion is mainly understood in economic terms, while cultural and social barriers often remain overlooked. Structural constraints, including dominant market... (More)
Alternative food networks are increasingly promoted in policy, academic, and civil society discourses as pathways to sustainable and socially just food systems. However, their demographic homogeneity raises questions about their capacity to foster social inclusion. This study explores how Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in Southern Germany navigate tensions between solidaritybased ideals and the practical realities of inclusive participation. Based on semi-structured interviews with ten CSA practitioners and analysed through a food justice lens, findings show that inclusion is mainly understood in economic terms, while cultural and social barriers often remain overlooked. Structural constraints, including dominant market pressure and policy gaps, further limit CSAs’ capacity to prioritise inclusion. Yet, some CSAs are developing incremental strategies, showing commitment to address these challenges within existing limits. Achieving food justice through alternative food networks thus requires not only improved organisational practices but also systemic policy support. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wöhrstein, Malin LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Community Supported Agriculture, Social Inclusion, Food Justice, Alternative Food Networks, Food system transformation, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2025:051
language
English
id
9214037
date added to LUP
2025-10-17 17:05:48
date last changed
2025-10-17 17:05:48
@misc{9214037,
  abstract     = {{Alternative food networks are increasingly promoted in policy, academic, and civil society discourses as pathways to sustainable and socially just food systems. However, their demographic homogeneity raises questions about their capacity to foster social inclusion. This study explores how Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in Southern Germany navigate tensions between solidaritybased ideals and the practical realities of inclusive participation. Based on semi-structured interviews with ten CSA practitioners and analysed through a food justice lens, findings show that inclusion is mainly understood in economic terms, while cultural and social barriers often remain overlooked. Structural constraints, including dominant market pressure and policy gaps, further limit CSAs’ capacity to prioritise inclusion. Yet, some CSAs are developing incremental strategies, showing commitment to address these challenges within existing limits. Achieving food justice through alternative food networks thus requires not only improved organisational practices but also systemic policy support.}},
  author       = {{Wöhrstein, Malin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{‘Everyone is welcome’? Exploring social inclusion challenges in Alternative Food Networks: Insights from Community Supported Agriculture in Southern Germany}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}