Addressing gender relations in localized agri-food systems research. A case study

Abstract

Gender and food systems are interlinked in multi-dimensional and deep ways, but scientific literature show fragmented, disperse and partial approaches to the issue. Based on the initial works within an ongoing research project on values and sustainable food networks in Spain (called ALISOS), the present communication aims to outline some issues in which gendered power relations can be addressed within the framework of localized food systems. For this purpose a review of scientific literature has been arranged in order to identify interrelations among food systems and gender equity approaches, which results have been later discussed in several workshops to apply the main findings in a review of the initial formulation of the ALISOS Project. Our preliminary results suggest nine hypotheses to introduce a gender equity approach to localized food systems. Such hypothesis cover the different stages of the food chain (production, distribution and consumption). The conclusions stress the importance of including the domestic sphere in localized food systems research to unfold power relations and gender inequities within alternative food networks, and more generally the suitability to include a dedicated gender approach right in the design and development of SYAL research.