CHANGES IN CONSUMPTION PRACTICES DURING COVID-19: CHALLENGES FOR THE AGROECOLOGICAL SCALING FROM CONSUMPTION

Abstract

COVID-19 has brought a transformation in the systems of food consumption practices, particularly during the confinement. Certain changes in values, meanings and know-hows of practices of consumption are found to have similarities with those of alternative consumption linked with agroecological agri-food networks, which glimpse an opportunity for an agroecological scalation from the consumption side. This contribution analyses the alliances and approaches between conventional and alternative consumption during the pandemic, as well as the disputes on terms and meanings between powerful agri-food actors and agroecological networks. The article concludes that although there are certain approximations promoted by the pandemic context urging an increase of alternative consumption practicians, this process is not exempt of dispute due to big economic players trying to appropriate symbology, meanings and alternative practices to perpetuate their power over the agri-food system.