Food

This case study on the ‘Global North’ explores the governance, actor constellations and power relations within two formal entities aiming for alternative agri-food systems in Berlin-Brandenburg region: various Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) initiatives in eastern Brandenburg (Ackerbande, Lawine, Basta, Bienenwerder) as well as the Berlin Food Policy Council (Berliner Ernährungsrat).

The case study examines the malleability and resilience of the regional food system and investigates the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion in Ukraine onto the latter. In addition, various aspects of (promised and experienced) wellbeing will be critically assessed as well as the impact of the CSAs and Food Policy Council onto the regional food governance. Similarly to the Eastern European case study, various  methods are planned (participatory observation, food logs, in-depth individual and semi-structured focus group interviews, walking interviews and more) and the case study will be conducted in close collaboration with the Polička Collective, Berlin Food Policy Council as well other modules from the REMASS.

This case study on the ‘Global East’ explores the governance, stakeholders as well as wellbeing outcomes within a rather overlooked Food Self-Provisioning practice thriving at the European periphery.

Subsistence farming, in general, and Food Self-Provisioning in post-socialist Europe, in particular, have for long been (and often still is being) framed as a ‘survival/coping strategy of the poor’. Despite contesting and revaluing interpretations of this common practice that emphasize its ecologically, socially and individually beneficial aspects and demonstrate its subversive potential, subsistence has remained a somewhat controversial concept.

Through an in-depth place-based exploration of the Food (Self-)Provisioning this case study aims to enhance the understanding of the creative ways in which households and gardeners maintain (or increase) the resilience of their agri-food systems during socio-economic turmoil (e.g. The fall of the USSR, economic recession in 1998 and 2008, Covid-19 pandemic). Shedding light on the formal and informal sources of food, hybrid forms of FSP as well as prevalent networks and power relations in place the tranformative potential of FSP to regional agri-food systems as well as to (more-than) human wellbeing will be investigated.

Within the case study an innovative set of methods will be applied (participatory observation, arts-based research, food logs, in-depth individual and semi-structured focus group interviews, walking interviews and more) and the case study will be conducted in close collaboration with Polička Collective as well other modules from the REMASS.

Our model enables us to analyze historical disruptions and their differential impacts across different firms within the supply chain. By investigating how supply and demand shocks
unfold and how firms respond, we identify possibilities for more resilient and adaptive
food supply chains.
The results of the industry mapping will be complemented by a qualitative analysis of shocks and disruptions in the Ecuadorian banana export sector throughout the past 30 years. This includes expert interviews with firm managers of Ecuadorian banana export firms, tracing responses to disruptions and resilience and adaptation strategies pursued by firms. This mixed methods approach allows us to explain how and why production networks evolve over time, and to explore how they could be redesigned to better withstand and respond to systemic change. The case study is conducted in collaboration with other modules from REMASS.

As food security is a vital component of national security, countries around the world are seeking new trade partners with whom to establish resilient supply chains for this essential commodity. At the same time, environmental effects of fertilizer production and use continue to have devastating effects on both global climate and local ecosystems. With more than 2% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accruing to N-fertilizer alone, fertilizer is a substantial contributor to global GHG emissions. In this context, geo-economic concerns and supply chain resilience have moved to the forefront of government and firm strategies across the globe. In parallel, policymakers are seeking to accelerate the decarbonization of the industry.

Morocco, which sits on approximately 70 percent of global phosphate reserves – a key input into fertilizer production – is in the middle of these developments as it seeks to decarbonize and expand its production and foster new partnerships and trade relations both globally and regionally.

This case study aims to investigate power dynamics in the global fertilizer industry and their relevance for geopolitics, decarbonization and development. It proceeds in three steps.

1. Global industry and firm strategy analysis: Examination of current geographic, organizational, and technological shifts in key input markets, processing of inputs and trade of inorganic fertilizer products.

2. Morocco’s fertilizer strategy analysis: Examination of opportunities and constraints in Morocco’s strategy to succeed in achieving industrial development, decarbonization, strategic fertilizer autonomy and food security in the region.

3. Local conflict analysis: Investigation of conflicts in Morocco/Western Sahara around land and water use for the production of decarbonized fertilizer.

Methodologically, the study adopts a multi-sited case study approach with a global, regional and local perspective. It combines document analysis with interviews conducted with industry and government experts. Empirically, it focuses on both major producers (Canada, US, Norway, Germany, China) and rising actors from the Global South (Morocco) to investigate the structure of and shifts in the global fertilizer industry as well as their implications for industrial development and effects on local conflicts.