Digitalisation of Alternative Food Networks: A Case study of the Food Assembly

Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) represent a new way of food production, distribution, and consumption for shortening the food chain (De Bernardi et al., 2019), that positively affect both consumers and producers. Previous studies have shown that AFNs seem to have sustainable benefits, concerning the environmental, social and economic dimensions (Gruvaeus & Dahlin, 2021).

Regarding the social dimension, AFNs enable local food producers and consumers to enjoy multi-dimensional relationships with food (O'Kane, 2016). Relating to the economic prespective, AFNs encourage the inclusion of producers who had been excluded from the agricultural modernization process and have limited access to the market (Wilikinson, 2008). AFNs empower smallholders to build a new channel for selling their products in a quick, low-cost, and direct way, reducing market margins and resulting in a better price for both consumers and producers. Moreover, online knowledge sharing affects both frequency and quantity of local food purchases (De Bernardi et al., 2020).

However, even with holistic intentions, AFNs might have limitations in practical terms regarding the purchasing process, time and effort, unpredicted sales, and lack of physical space and structure for local aggregation and distribution of food. In response to these issues, the digitalization of the alternative food networks is an essential tool for overcoming these obstacles by enabling direct interactions between local food producers and consumers via a digital platform, which represent an environmentally friendly approach towards AFNs.

The Food Assembly (FA) is an example of how digitalization enables the more efficient and social distribution of local food by building bridges between producers and consumers. FA is an emerging model of AFNs enabeling direct trade between producers and consumers via the hybrid marketplace, where on-site and online interactions coexist simultaneously (De Bernardi, Bertello, & Venuti, 2020; Espelt Rodrigo, Peña-López, & Vega, 2017; European Network for Rural Development, 2015).

The overall objective of this study is to shed a light on digital AFNs in Berlin, explore the concept of the Food Assembly (FA), and develop a scientific conceptual map regarding local food producers' motivations to participate in FAs.

To this aim, the methodology adopted relies on two stages. The first stage focus on an extensive literature review carried out not only to define the concept of AFNs and FAs but also to identify the research gap in the current letirature aiming to build upon what already exists and contribute in investigating the identified topics for further investigation. The second stage is fieldwork executed in various AFN across Berlin and Brandenbourg, mainly consisting of AFNs observations and exploratory in-depth interviews with different actors of AFNs.