A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
From Scarcity to Abundance : Food Waste Themes and Virtues in Agrarian and Mature Consumer Society (2020)

Uusitalo, O., & Takala, T. (2020). From Scarcity to Abundance : Food Waste Themes and Virtues in Agrarian and Mature Consumer Society. In E. Närvänen, N. Mesiranta, M. Mattila, & A. Heikkinen (Eds.), Food Waste Management : Solving the Wicked Problem (pp. 257-288). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20561-4_10

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Uusitalo, Outi; Takala, Tuomo

Parent publication: Food Waste Management : Solving the Wicked Problem

Parent publication editors: Närvänen, Elina; Mesiranta, Nina; Mattila, Malla; Heikkinen, Anna

ISBN: 978-3-030-20560-7

eISBN: 978-3-030-20561-4

Publication year: 2020

Pages range: 257-288

Number of pages in the book: 455

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Place of Publication: Cham

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20561-4_10

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/65520

Abstract

Uusitalo and Takala address the food waste problem as a societal phenomenon and examine ethical virtues, values linked to them and food practices in two different time periods: agrarian society (1885–1917) and mature consumer society (2008–2017), in Finland. They use data from newspapers to uncover how ethical principles can underpin understanding of the food waste phenomenon. The study shows how the virtues adopted by food chain actors guide their practices towards sustainable ways of handling excess food. While societal themes of food waste are changing, virtues and food practices are changing as well, but some deep-rooted societal virtues and values persist. The chapter concludes with recommendations of how to act out virtues in everyday food practices to control and reduce food waste.

Keywords: food waste; ethical consumerism; sustainable consumption; virtues; agrarian society; consumer society; journalistic writing

Free keywords: food waste; virtue ethics, sustainable food chain; food practice

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2020

JUFO rating: 3