Food sovereignty and security in gastronomy: Interrelationships and perspectives by an academic community of Brazil

Gastronomy has emerged as a transdisciplinary field of knowledge guided by a critical perspective. However, this more inclusive and comprehensive view coexists with a hegemonic and normative perspective in which gastronomy knowledge is restricted to culinary techniques from a distinctive and exclusive standpoint. This study investigates the interrelationships and prospects between gastronomy and Food Sovereignty and Security as perceived by Brazil’s undergraduate gastronomy academic community. Methodologically, this is qualitative research, in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with professors, undergraduate students, and alumni of these programs, which were transcribed and interpreted based on thematic content analysis. The theoretical frameworks adopted were the paradigm of complexity, which considers the integration of different forms of knowledge, and the understanding of coloniality within this educational context. Among the results, findings reveal that overcoming hegemonic and Eurocentric paradigms of gastronomy is necessary for establishing interrelations between Gastronomy and Food Sovereignty and Security. Since gastronomy represents culture and identity, undergraduate students in Gastronomy programs in Brazil have turned towards a local, regional, and national perspective, encompassing the construction of their own epistemology. It is also envisaged that this knowledge includes overcoming strictly technical knowledge, consolidating itself as knowledge that encompasses various stages of the food system, whether scientific or not. New professional profiles are also emerging as possibilities for professional engagement, involving technical professionals committed to Food Sovereignty and Security, professionals engaged in political, educational, and research actions. However, despite the progress made towards the Human Right to Adequate Food, democratization of food, and integration of knowledge from a decolonial perspective, an effective counter-hegemonic stance remains incipient in the discourse.