Project description
Cooperatives and the solidarity economy debate
The rising global demand for food requires new industrial food system solutions. The question now is whether the solidarity economy is an idealistic theoretical scheme or a viable proposal. There is evidence that multi-stakeholder cooperatives (MSCs) in Europe operate successfully on a small scale. However, research on whether they represent a precursor of a larger transformation is missing. The EU-funded LivingTogether project will contribute to the debate about the role of the solidarity economy in food system transformations. It will support the exchange of information between East and West, scholars and cooperative movements. To achieve this, it will focus on the Korean Hansalim cooperative established by producers and consumers and that is today the largest organic food MSC worldwide.
Objective
Is the solidarity economy an impractical idealistic dream or can cooperatives really make a significant contribution to realising sustainable agri-food systems? With the global food system in crisis, there is an urgent need to study alternatives to the modern industrial food system and to share practical and policy lessons for sustainability transformations.
There is an accumulation of evidence across Europe that certain kinds of cooperatives which bring farmers and consumers together – multi-stakeholder cooperatives (MSC) – can function successfully to promote sustainable agri-food systems at a small scale. Yet there is little research on the extent to which they represent a pathway to wider transformation.
Through this fellowship, my goal is to enlarge the global conversation about the role of the solidarity economy in food system transformations by supporting shared learning between East and West and academia and cooperative movements. To achieve this, I have planned an extensive period of participatory fieldwork to conduct an in-depth case study of a little-known Korean cooperative, Hansalim, which has grown to become the largest organic food MSC in the world. It embodies a possible model of a large-scale alternative to the modern industrial food system with wider implications for broader societal transformation. This project will culminate in the publication of a series of academic papers and a book about Hansalim for popular readership to reach the widest possible English-speaking audience.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
BN1 9RH BRIGHTON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.