Alternative Food Networks: Characteristics and Dynamics that Define Alternativeness in the Academic Production

Abstract

This article analyzes the characteristics and dynamics that define alternative food networks (AFNs) as an alternative to the conventional food system. The relevance of the study lies in the growing importance of AFNs as transformative agents that challenge the hegemony of industrial agriculture and point to more equitable, sustainable, and integrated food systems. A systematic review of 106 articles indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases was conducted. The methodology involved searching for specific terms, reading the full texts, and creating a database for systematization and qualitative analysis. As a result, 34 characteristics attributed to AFNs were identified, with the ten most cited being: close relationships between actors; economic, social, and environmental concerns; an emphasis on location; differentiated and diverse organizational structures; education, conscious choice, and responsible consumption; shared values; a challenge to the dominant paradigm; activism and political awareness; and challenges to the maintenance and adaptability of AFNs and unconventional agricultural practices. The analysis of the results indicates that alternativeness is not a fixed attribute but rather a concept that is interpreted in various ways, reflecting the coexistence of different values, practices, and organizational structures. In this sense, the study systematically organizes these elements and the findings, offering a comprehensive view of the various ways in which alternativeness is conceived in AFNs. This broadens the theoretical understanding of the phenomenon and provides support for future investigations that wish to further the debate in different contexts.