ABSTRACT
For answering the question on how global problems in the area of food can be solved at a local level, ecovillages are innovative cases to examine, because they are citizen-organized initiatives experimenting with sustainable ways of living. Researched and analysed from a perspective of transformative social innovation and practice theory, the food practices in the ecovillages – with the in-depth case of Sieben Linden Ecovillage – will be described. Based on this research it is discussed whether more sustainable food practices at the local level compared to the average surrounding systems could be created and if yes, details about their main ways of creating and maintaining this food system. Further it will be discussed what kind of transformation takes place and how these food systems are spread and disseminated in, by and beyond ecovillages as well as whether ecovillages have created promising innovations which can be transferred to other contexts. The chapter draws on more than 15 years of research on ecovillages. Based on examining the approaches of ecovillages this contribution shows that especially their governance and organizational frame are having a major influence on the implementation of sustainable food systems and that they are partly spreading this knowledge to other contexts.
