Eat local, think global? The role of local food production chains in the Netherlands in achieving sustainability through environmental awareness, attitude and behaviour.

Abstract

Abstract

This Bachelorthesis examines the role of local food production chains as a successful process in achieving sustainability through knowledge, awareness, attitude and behaviour. First of all, sustainable consumption appeared to be an important policy objective which relies upon informed ecological citizens that shape markets through consumption in accordance to their values and priorities. Cosmopolitan environmental awareness is essential for the viability of this process towards sustainable consumption, but is inherently political and also structurally limited. Local food production does increases local knowledge and environmental awareness in society at large by providing tactile spaces that enable social learning, but is mainly successful in attracting people with the ‘fun’ aspect of local food. In order to prevent that local food consumption becomes a red herring which conflates locality or fun with sustainability, it is crucial to connect the attractive character of local food production to the meaning of this production process as a way of expressing values and priorities. Consumers need to be addressed more actively on their role of ecological citizens.