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Food and Governmentality in the Green City: The Case of German Food Policy Councils

Author

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  • Alena Birnbaum

    (Department of Landscape Planning and Communication, University of Kassel, Germany)

  • Petra Lütke

    (Department of Geography, University of Münster, Germany)

Abstract

As an essential urban matter, food has always been highly relevant in issues of social and environmental justice. Current debates around food call for a better understanding of the relationship between global and local food production and social and environmental justice. Specifically, discussions on urban greening concepts are considering whether and how social justice and sustainability goals can be achieved. This has become a pressing issue due to a growing awareness of negative effects and social imbalances in the production, consumption, and disposal of food. The article explores the normative foundations and constructions of “good and just food” that are considered appropriate to a sustainable food system and the power techniques related to personal and environmental responsibility that feature in the work of the German food policy councils seeking to initiate a transformation process. Using a governmentality approach based on Foucault, this article seeks to fill gaps in the literature regarding food policy councils and, thereby, contribute to our understanding of the local manifestations of global policy projects that address environmental and social justice in green cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Alena Birnbaum & Petra Lütke, 2023. "Food and Governmentality in the Green City: The Case of German Food Policy Councils," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 388-398.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:urbpla:v8:y:2023:i:1:p:388-398
    DOI: 10.17645/up.v8i1.6038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ida Andersson, 2016. "‘Green cities’ going greener? Local environmental policy-making and place branding in the ‘Greenest City in Europe’," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(6), pages 1197-1215, June.
    2. Patricia Allen, 2010. "Realizing justice in local food systems," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 3(2), pages 295-308.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anton Parisi & Felix Zoll & Faiza Darkhani, 2026. "Whose alternative? Challenges and potential for diversity, equity, and inclusion in German alternative food networks," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 43(1), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Roberta Cucca & Thomas Thaler, 2023. "Social Justice in the Green City," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 279-282.
    3. Lea Loretta Zentgraf, 2025. "How Democratic Is Just Enough? Critical Reflections on the Transformative Potential of the Berlin Food Policy Council," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10.
    4. Isabela Bonnevera, 2025. "“New food cultures” and the absent food citizen: immigrants in urban food policy discourse," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(1), pages 333-349, March.

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