Organizing for thoughtful food: a meshwork approach.

Area of Science:

• Food Systems Analysis
• Sociology of Organization
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Current food system organization models often overlook informal and shadow dynamics.
• There is a need for theoretical lenses that capture the complexity and relationality inherent in food systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and explore the concept of 'meshwork' as a novel theoretical lens for organizing food systems.
• To examine the ontological assumptions underlying informal food system dynamics.
• To center relationality and becoming in the study of food systems.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal qualitative case study approach.
• Analysis of entangled relationships and their contribution to food system organization.
• Examination of 'meshwork knots,' 'threads,' and 'weave' to understand dynamics.

Main Results:

• Demonstrates how entangled relationships form a complex ontology through meshwork.
• Identifies dynamic 'knots' of interaction addressing collective concerns.
• Shows 'threads' representing movement and 'weave' indicating food system resilience in flow.

Conclusions:

• The meshwork concept offers an alternative narrative for organizing food systems.
• This approach provides a platform for addressing critical food matters, including global food system integrity, health and environmental impacts, and food safety.