From agroecological production to responsible consumption: innovative experiences between producers and consumers to overcome the environmental crisis

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the international scientific debate on Alternative Food Networks (AFN) and Civic Food Networks (CFN). These experiences, which are being consolidated in various parts of the world, refer to innovative social processes involving agricultural producers, consumers and other actors in the suply chain engaged in the construction of real alternatives aimed at implementing a different model of production, marketing and consumption. One of the main experiences of AFN and CFN is the realisation of social pacts among actors (agricultural producers, consumers and other actors in the suply chain). The experiences and practices identified in AFN and CFN and analysed in this paper can be considered particularly significant paths of rethinking food meanings and practices at a community and political level. Such experiences of local pacts clearly go beyond redefining the relationship between food production and consumption. The socialisation of agricultural activities is an important phenomenon, which could contribute to the construction of a model capable of unifying other functions and objectives, such as mutual aid services, different relations between town and country, promotion of environmental and food biodiversity, oportunities for local businesses and jobs.