Social enterprise, food justice, and food sovereignty: Strange bedfellows or systemic supports?

Abstract

There is a debate in the literature about whether one can address food system problems with mar-ket-based approaches while seeking food justice or food sovereignty. However, as part of a team of researchers and community leaders, we have found that this debate is less relevant in practice. The concepts are interrelated within real-world food systems. As such, we were motivated to ask, how do social enterprises (SEs) interact with food jus- tice and food sovereignty movements and their visions in order to realize more democratic and equitable local food systems in communities? To answer this question, we conducted a systematic review at the intersection of SE, food sovereignty, and food justice literature. Analyzing nine articles, which included 17 food-related SEs, we found evidence of potential interactions between food SEs, food justice, and food sovereignty that are compat-ible (e.g., create employment) and incompatible (e.g., limited ability to address issues like community employability and green gentrification). The literature includes at least three important character-istics that inform how food-related SEs may interact with food justice and sovereignty, includ-ing employee and ownership demographics, the enterprise business model, and aspects of the food system targeted by the enterprise via market activi-ties. If we consider a systems perspective, we can envision the ways in which the aspects are embed-ded and interdependent in a neoliberal society. SEs, as market-based agents for social change, exist in the same system as justice and sovereignty.