What are foodscapes and why do we study them?

‘Foodscape’ is a recently coined term that encompasses not only food systems, but also the people, cultures and societies that rely upon them. Although definitions of the term foodscape may vary, foodscape studies focus on the interaction between people, their environment and their food system. In general, foodscape studies examine three core issues: sustainability, social justice and public health. The study of foodscapes is in its infancy; in the future, foodscape studies could have a significant impact on sustainability, social justice and public health policies. According to a research study recently published in a well-respected academic journal, “‘Foodscape’ should hence be the preferred term when tackling not only a physical food environment, but also a socially constructed landscape, perceived differently according to the stakeholder’s background and situation. Following the systemic approaches to food systems, people-based and place-based interdisciplinary research is needed to explore this food-people-territory nexus” (Vonthron).