Social Economy and the Foodshed in Greece: Local Pathways and Constraints through the Lens of SDGs

Achieving sustainable living for the planet and the social ecosystem is one of the main goals of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). Rooted in the principles of reciprocity and the need for an equitable, and just economy SSE adopts alternative entrepreneurial models such as cooperatives, social businesses, community organizations self-help groups among others that use monetary and non-monetary resources towards a more sustainable future. The principal values of SSE question ‘business-as-usual’ and are consistent with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Especially those initiatives and social entrepreneurial activities dealing with challenges within the foodshed are seen as a means to address the environmental pressures and social injustices and the democratic deficit in the agrifood chain. This paper tries to advocate this connection between SSE and the SDGs through the lens of alternative food networks emerging in a Mediterranean country the past years of crisis. Using a case study cooperative in Greece run by a grassroots solidarity group in the capital city of Athens we focus on the role of SSE in achieving at a local level some of the SDGs. According to our results different pathways may emerge and several challenges have to be discussed.