Eating the view : navigating the food rrisis through cooperative food communities in La Pau

Food communities, also referred to as food co-ops or consumer cooperatives, represent collectives of individuals united with the common goal of jointly procuring and managing the sourcing of various food and related products. These communities distinguish themselves through their shared values and objectives that revolve around sustainable, ethical, and health-conscious food consumption practices. Members of food communities often engage in collaborative efforts to endorse local producers, curtail their ecological footprint, and secure access to high-quality, frequently organic, food items. The study seeks to examine whether contemporary food communities mirror the consumption patterns of past organic food societies. To accomplish this, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken, tracing the historical roots of the cooperative movement up to the present day. The primary areas of investigation encompassed the size and legal framework of these communities, their proximity relationships with agroecological suppliers, and their governance models. By scrutinizing various case studies and diverse types of food communities, the study aimed to discern the optimal equilibrium between size, governance models, and the urban infrastructure necessary for the establishment of such initiatives. The objective is to demonstrate that while distinct models may function effectively within their specific contexts, amalgamating key components could lead to the creation of more efficient and impactful communities. As a pilot area, the neighborhood of La Pau in Barcelona, Spain, was utilized to test the hypothesis, particularly in light of the "15-minute city" concept. This approach illuminated the neighborhood's disconnection from the broader territorial context. Given Barcelona's rich history of cooperative movements and its well-established, evenly distributed municipal markets, the study strives to synthesize various aspects of food communities into a vision for a Cooperative Market model. The study also delineates potential governance pathways that encompass considerations of ownership and investment. The installation of one or more food communities, utilizing profits for reinvestment in a more sustainable neighborhood, is anticipated to mitigate food poverty, enhance social cohesion, and elevate overall living standards within the community