Beyond Animal‐Based Diets? Alternative Food Networks and Vegetarianism in the City of Buenos Aires

Abstract

This article aims to advance on a little-knowntopic, the relationship between participation in alternative food supply networks(AFN) and the vegetarian condition of consumers in the city of Buenos Aires. To this end, we conducted an exploratory studyanalysing the features and practices of the clients who join these networks through qualitative and quantitative data collectiontechniques (20 semi-structuredinterviews and a survey of 196 cases). Qualitative analysis highlighted the importance of certainmoments of rupture in consumers´ biographies, such as the transition to veganism or the reduction of meat consumption. The quantitative phase indicated that vegans and vegetarians represent an important group of customers in alternative food networks. Compared to other consumers, they show a greater interest in the systemic aspects of the food system. Likewise, the incidence of their refusal to buy food in supermarkets, their frequent purchase of agroecological and organic food and a high proportion of expenditure in them points to their greater degree of politicisation. These findings allow us to reflect on the implications of the convergence of AFN and plant-based diets for the sustainability of the food system.