The Route to Sustainable Economies:

Turn right at culture Wynne Wright, Ph.D.

Michigan State University

Center for Community Economic Development Conference26 March 2013

Food, Culture and SustainabilityFinding Balance

“Sustainability is a vision and a

process, not an end product.”

Newman & Kenworthy,1999:5

How do we meet the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet

their own needs?

How do we improve the quality of life while living within the

carrying capacity of the planet?

What is Culture?

• “The means of these processes – as in culture as ‘the arts’ and ‘humane intellectual works’.”

Source: Williams, 1983:11-13

• “As ‘a whole way of life’, ‘a signifying system’ through which a social order is communicated, reproduced, experienced and explored.”

Finding Balance

Cultural Sustainability As Artifact

• Little ‘c’ culture (Artifacts of Culture)

– Rests on Definition 1: Culture is the means of development processes – as in culture as ‘the arts’ and ‘humane intellectual works.’

– This approach applies the ideas of sustainability to cultural concerns– Focus is on cultural ‘products’…tangible artifacts…things…

• Art, literature, music, fashions, food and tastes

Finding Balance

The Fourth Pillar of Sustainability: Cultures Essential Role in Public Planning, by Jon Hawkes

Cultural Sustainability As Blueprint

• Big ‘C’ Culture (Blueprint for Sustainability)– Rests on Definition 3: Culture is ‘a whole way of life’, ‘a signifying system’

through which a social order is communicated, reproduced, experienced, explored.

– Recognizes that our thoughts, actions, beliefs, values, likes and dislikes are social creations, strongly influenced by the time and place we live.

– Focuses on the role of culture as pivotal for imagining and planning for sustainable development

• Asks, “Who are we? “What do we share? “Do we get along? “How do we work together?”

Finding Balance

Culture as Artifact/what

• Focus on arts-based initiatives/solutions

• Forming and maintaining new social networks with organizations, groups, artists, and government

• Integrate local customs, crafts, and practices into education

• Increasing opportunities for individuals to become more involved in the arts

• Invest in cultural industries to diversify economies

Culture as Blueprint/how

• Create public spaces that draw people together

– Unite racial and ethnic diversity

– Multi-generational

• Enhance ability to work cooperatively & communicate with others

• Build community identity and pride

• Support positive community norms, such as cultural understanding and free expression

• Foster trust between individuals

How do we bring ‘c’/’C’ulture in? Finding Balance

• Both approaches are rooted in time and place

• Big ‘C’ = defines how people relate

to each other

- Reflection of values, beliefs, norms

• Little ‘c’ = sees uniqueness in our natural

resources and material artifacts

- Outgrowth of environmental resources

• Economic and cultural diversities are closely

interdependent

– Interact and affect one another

• Considerations of culture enables

development when it takes in account the

local context, particularities of place (assets).

Finding Balance

Co-construction

Food As a Cultural Artifact

• Place-based foods are foods that are tied to the climate and soil of a region as well as to the culture and traditions of its inhabitants. – What’s unique to your place?

• Heritage & Ethnic traditions• Production practices• Biological distinctions

– What’s their story?

“… ultimately, the pursuit of sustainability is a local undertaking not only because each

community is ecologically and culturally unique but also because its citizens

have specific place-based needs and requirements.”• - R. E. Rhoades, 2006

Finding Balance

France…Leading the Way

Culture of Place and Food

Organizations and Individuals Leading the Way

Culture, Place and Food in the U.S.

The Real Thing…“I am looking for the real thing; I care where it

comes from and how it is made”

The Cultural Revolution in Food The Cultural

Revolution in Food

Michigan Organizations and Individuals Leading the Way

Michigan… Hops Heaven

Michigan Organizations and Individuals Leading the Way

Westwind Mill, Argentine, MI

Michigan Organizations and Individuals Leading the Way

Light of Day Organic Teas

Dancing Goat Creamery

Michigan Organizations and Individuals Leading the Way

Four Corners Creamery

Michigan Cheesemakers

Cultural Sustainability as Blueprint

• Focus is on how – the process - to create a cultural economy.– How do we talk about our sustainable future –

positively?– Who participates in planning – all or a few?– Do cultural products represent ‘us’ or ‘them’? – Who decides how we market our place?– Are decision making practices democratic and open

or closed?– Will there be negative consequences for some as a

result of a cultural economy?

Finding Balance is about …

• Bringing culture as artifact into sustainability focus, visioning and planning.– What we are …

--- AND ---• Bringing culture as blueprint – the larger

questions of values, identity, and process - into sustainability focus, visioning and planning.

- How we function …

Cultural Sustainability … “the ability to retain cultural identity, and to allow change to be guided in ways that are consistent with the cultural values of a people.”

Sustainable Development Research Institute, 1998:1

Contact InformationContact Information

Wynne Wright, Ph.D.

Michigan State UniversityDepartment of Community,

Agriculture, Recreation, &

Resource Studiesand

Department ofSociology

East Lansing, MI 48824

wrightwy@anr.msu.edu