From Consumers to Governance Understanding Food Choices, Alternative Food Networks, and Urban Policies

The global food system is facing increasing challenges related to environmental sustainability, social inequality, and economic viability. Industrialized agricultural practices have led to soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, while globalized food chains have exacerbated social inequalities and food insecurity. These structural issues highlight the need for a transformation toward sustainable food systems. This dissertation examines the transformation of food systems through the interconnected roles of consumer behavior, Alternative Food Networks (AFNs), and urban food governance. By integrating insights from consumption studies, food systems analysis, and urban governance, this research investigates the dynamics that drive or hinder sustainability-oriented food system changes. The central research questions guiding this thesis are: (1) What are the key barriers and opportunities within consumer behavior, AFNs, and urban food governance that influence the transformation toward sustainable food systems? (2) How do these three components interact to shape food system transformation? Existing literature on food system sustainability highlights the complexity of these transformations, emphasizing multi-level interactions between niche innovations, established regimes, and broader socio-political landscape. Previous studies have explored consumer choices as a potential driver of sustainability but often overlook structural constraints that shape these behaviors. AFNs, such as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and farmers' markets, offer promising pathways for localized food system innovations, yet they frequently struggle with issues of inclusivity and scalability. Meanwhile, urban food governance has emerged as a critical site for intervention, with Food Policy Councils and municipal initiatives demonstrating the potential to integrate sustainability goals into policy frameworks. This thesis employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection. The research draws on participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and survey data collected over several years in Trentino, Italy, and within a broader European comparative framework. The analysis utilizes Social Practice Theory (SPT), Convention Theory, and the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) to examine interactions between consumption habits, grassroots initiatives, and governance structures. This research contributes to the literature on food system transformation by empirically demonstrating how consumer behavior, Alternative Food Networks (AFNs), and urban food governance interact in complex, context-dependent ways. Key findings reveal that while consumers aspire to sustainable practices, their agency is constrained by structural inequalities, cultural norms, and institutional trust levels. AFNs, though innovative, face scalability challenges due to both entrenched regime logics and dominant practices, along with infrastructure gaps. Urban governance initiatives like Nutrire Trento highlight the potential of participatory models but also their fragility when lacking long-term institutional support. The study underscores the need for integrated, multi-level strategies that address power asymmetries, align policies with grassroots innovations, and reconfigure socio-material conditions to enable systemic change. These insights offer actionable pathways for policymakers and practitioners to foster resilient and equitable food systems.