Hirth, Steffen, Oncini, Filippo, Boons, Frank et al. (1 more author) (2022) Building back normal? An investigation of practice changes in the charitable and on-the-go food provision sectors through COVID-19. Sustainability Science. pp. 410-427. ISSN 1862-4057
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about debates on rethinking food and other socio-technical systems. While swiftly re-establishing normality has understandable appeal in a crisis, the landscape-level changes during the pandemic also hold windows of opportunity to “build back better” and to achieve sustainability transitions. In this article, we ask whether a cycle of disruption and adaptation results either in the rise of more sustainable niche practices or the consolidation of the socio-technical regimes in place. To approach this question, we consider the specific cases of charitable and on-the-go food provision and examine the extent to which COVID-induced adaptations have resulted in debates about, and implementations of, more just and sustainable practices. We draw on systems transitions and practice theoretical approaches to elucidate dynamics and elasticity and thus the effect of socio-technical practice changes. After describing the pre-COVID food regimes, we evaluate organizational practice adaptations during the lockdowns with regard to (1) changing cultural images of food security and provision, (2) socio-technical innovations, and (3) new forms of governance. We find that rather than justifying the public and policy frame of “building back better,” the effect of recovery measures reinforces the socio-technical regimes and omits wider sectoral and societal sustainability challenges such as the systemic reduction of poverty and waste.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Author(s) |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > The York Management School |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number BBSRC (BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL) BB/V004581/1 |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 08 Jun 2022 15:50 |
Last Modified: | 07 Jan 2025 00:15 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2022.2076352 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/15487733.2022.2076352 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:187781 |
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Filename: 15487733.2022.pdf
Description: Building back normal? An investigation of practice changes in the charitable and on-the-go food provision sectors through COVID-19
Licence: CC-BY-NC 2.5