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Transforming Food Systems Through Food Sovereignty: An Australian Urban Context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2015

Federico Davila  and
Robert Dyball
Federico Davila*
Affiliation:
Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Robert Dyball
Affiliation:
Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Federico Davila, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. Email: federico.davila@anu.edu.au
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Abstract

This article draws on La Via Campesina's definition of food sovereignty and its potential for reconceptualising food as a basic human right within the dominant Australian food discourse. We argue that the educative value that emerges from urban food production in Australia stems from the action of growing food and its capacity to transform individuals’ social and environmental concerns over food systems. Community participation in urban food production can promote a learning process that generates political understanding and concerns over food systems. We use the education theories of transformative learning and critical consciousness to discuss how Australian urban food production systems can create this social and environmental support for alternative food systems. By having control over food production practices and building collective understandings of how food choices impact global food systems, elements of food sovereignty can develop in an Australian urban context.

Keywords

food sovereigntytransformative learningcritical consciousnessLa Via Campesina
Type
Feature Articles
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 31 , Special Issue 1: Putting Food on the Table , July 2015 , pp. 34 - 45
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015 

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