Learning through Food Practices: Responsible Consumption and Mediated Social Relations in Brazilian Alternative Food Networks

In the context of increasing instability in contemporary agrifood systems, Células de Consumidores Responsáveis [Responsible Consumption Cells] (CCRs) in Southern Brazil connect groups of consumers directly with local agroecological farmers through collective purchasing arrangements. This paper examines how participation in CCRs shapes everyday consumption practices and how responsible consumption is socially learned and negotiated over time. Following an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the study combines an online survey (N=155) with eight in-depth interviews with participants from eleven CCRs in Greater Florianópolis. Quantitative findings show an association between participation duration and the prioritisation of CCR products even when cheaper alternatives are available, although this relationship is non-linear. Reflexive thematic analysis identified four interrelated processes: learning through everyday food practices; developing socio-ecological relationships around food; negotiating responsible consumption within everyday constraints; and the mediation of learning and participation through organisational and institutional infrastructures. Farm visits, collective activities, digital communication, and institutional support create different opportunities for learning and producer–consumer relationships. The findings suggest that responsible consumption is not merely an individual choice but an uneven, relational, and socially mediated process, positioning CCRs as spaces of socially embedded innovation in food-system transitions.