Dear old (and misunderstood) districts, let’s look ahead
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Food districts seem to be a phenomenon as widespread as they are somewhat little known and misunderstood. After thirty years of collective thinking and practice, we question what districts in the agricultural and rural domain actually are and whether we are yet to produce a scientifically consistent conceptual framework to fully understand them. This article aims to relaunch a debate about this theme, encouraging scholars to refocus their research on it, thereby hopefully prompting policy-makers to revisit and review current policy. How the current conceptual framework develops from Becattini’s interpretation of the Marshallian Industrial District and its impact on policy design and implementation are analysed and grey areas highlighted. Current transitions linked to sustainability and global challenges are explored through the relevant literature, highlighting the changing meaning of some key concepts that are necessary to reframe the district notion. Our conclusion is that a new generation of district is needed, in addiction to a new policy framework, which in turn will require a reframing and more robust conceptualization of what food districts are. We end by analysing some difficulties and caveats to begin to produce a theoretical definition of a new conceptual framework.
Source: RIVISTA DI ECONOMIA AGRARIA
DOI: 10.36253/rea-15062
Authors: Daniela Toccaceli, Alessandro Pacciani
Institution: Academy of Georgofili
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4396927671