ABSTRACT
Sustainable food production relies on strong, caring, collaborative relationships. In this chapter, we focus on the role of businesses and economic opportunities on the path to plant-based diets and succulent sustainability. We propose the term integrity economics to describe a nuanced and practical approach to business, where relationships are central, and financial and economic sustainability go hand in hand. Using the metaphor of a delicious plate of food at a plant-based feast, we present case studies of seven businesses and one institution to highlight the opportunities and challenges in moving towards a plant-based diet. We describe how geographical, ecological, and human boundaries can offer signposts on this journey, and discuss the contexts, limitations, challenges, and contradictions inherent to this approach, while being fuelled by the conviction that our food systems can be ecologically restorative, socially cohesive, and key to building vibrant and resilient local economies.
