Understanding the Continuity of Alternative Food Networks: The Case of Istanbul Through the Lens of Social Practice Theory

Since 2010, consumer-led organizations have emerged in Turkey’s major cities as alternatives to conventional food systems, aiming to connect ecological producers with consumers through disintermediated, fair-trade channels. While initially prominent in Izmir, Istanbul, and Ankara, food communities in Istanbul are currently experiencing weakened continuity and structural transformation. Grounded in Social Practice Theory (SPT), this study examines the factors influencing the embeddedness of these communities, using Istanbul as a context to observe dissolution and restructuring dynamics. By analyzing the relationship between Alternative Food Network (AFN) practices and everyday practice bundles, the article argues that practices lose sustainability when links between meanings, materials, and competences weaken, often due to increased organizational burdens or shifting participant capacities. However, dissolution does not signal a total withdrawal. Instead, actors frequently transition into new alternative formations or adapt practices to align with daily routines. This study contributes to AFN literature by analyzing sustainability through the lens of dissolution and transformation rather than mere success stories, demonstrating that AFNs are contextual, trial and error processes rather than “one-size-fits-all” models.