A framework for assessing the contribution of alternative food initiatives to food system transformations towards sustainability

Alternative food initiatives are vital for transforming food systems towards sustainability by challenging, replacing, and complementing the status quo. Understanding how these initiatives contribute to transformation requires attention not only to their intended outcomes but also to the processes through which these outcomes contribute to broader social change. Existing assessment frameworks rarely consider this intersection. To address this gap, we developed a framework that links outcomes of alternative food initiatives to the processes through which they contribute to transformations, drawing on alternative food literature and prefigurative theorising. We then applied the framework to two alternative food initiatives and found we were able to (1) identify multiple processes through which their outcomes lead to transformation, and thereby (2) develop a better understanding of how different initiatives approach their contributions to transformations differently. This could enhance evidence gathering, assessment, and communication of their benefits, which could be used by change agents to increase public support, advocate for policy change, and access resources. Furthermore, recognising the differences and complementarities among initiatives could also improve the strategic capacity of alternative food movements by fostering appreciation of diverse change-making practices. By providing a tool for assessing the link between outcomes of alternative food initiatives and the processes through which they contribute to transformations, the framework can support researchers and practitioners to foster more coherent and effective transformative action in the food system.