WORKSHOP: VALUES IN AGRIFOOD STUDIES FROM THEORY TO EMPIRICAL EXAMPLES
DATE: October 10th-11th 2024VENUE: SOWI, Institute of Sociology, University of Innsbruck
Organizers: Ass.Prof. Dr. Rike Stotten; Dr. Nora Katharina Faltmann in the context of the FWF research project: Exploring values-based modes of production and consumption in the corporate food regime
From the perspective of agrifood studies, alternative food systems aim to valorize ‘good food’ (Goodman 2003) through the introduction of standards and labels or the creation of proximity between food producers and consumers within alternative food networks such as food coops or community-supported agriculture. However, the exact meanings of ‘values’ in agrifood contexts are not always clarified or defined. Some agrifood scholarship has a broad understanding of val- ues as intangible guiding principles including solidarity, equality, sustainability, and mutual trust (Feenstra, Hardesty 2016; Nakandala et al. 2019; Savarese et al. 2020; Sumner 2017). Other agri- food scholarship refers to values in relation to standards such as Global C.A.P. that basically reflect value chains shaped by the corporate food regime. Here especially the interrelations of standards with values remain empirically underexamined and undertheorized (Loconto & Arnold, 2022).
During the workshop, we aim to carve out the various meanings of ‘values’ in the agri-food con- text in order to deepen the understanding of the role of values in alternative food systems. The workshop welcomes different approaches to values, e.g. from the perspective of valuation stud- ies, Actor-Network Theory, or social embeddedness. Inputs will contribute to fostering a deeper understanding of values within the agri-food context. In addition, the workshop will address the theoretical challenges by theorising empirical examples.
Paper proposals in English including title, abstract (150-300 words), and a short CV should be sent to Nora.Faltmann@ubik.ac.at by March 31st 2024. Participants will be notified of the acceptance of their papers by April 15th 2024.
There will likely be the possibility of imbursements for travel and accommodation costs. There is an option to publish the workshop contributions as a Special Section in the International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food for publication in April 2025 (submission in October 2024).