Food Activism and Movements around Unconventional Edible Plants

Abstract

This research proposes an analysis of Brazilian food activism today, focusing specifically on the food movements around Unconventional Food Plants (PANC-Wild Foods). Our theoretical basis was among Food Sociology, Food Activism and Consumer Studies. Through the search tool in Instagram platform, the data curation of social media content, the participant observation in a field experience and the interview with one of the activists, we tried to build a mapping of the main actors (individuals and collectives) involved with the Unconventional Food Plants, analyzing its objectives, dilemmas and ambiguities, as well as the debates and controversies around it, specially on what it refers to conventionalization and the usage of the PANC acronym. We also analyze how these movements use strategies of political consumerism and what practices are defended by the activists. Finally, we characterize the main forms of action (stricto sensu activism, entrepreneur activism and environmental education activism) and proposed a typology of the movements around Unconventional Food Plants; The ones who emphasize ethical critics, the ones who emphasize aesthetic critics and the ones who oppose themselves to the acronym of Unconventional Food Plants (PANC).