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Field Guides to Food

Institutional Structure

Ways of representing food in context so that the systemic nature of food relationships is revealed.

As a new practice or value grows in popularity and becomes commonplace over time, it sometimes becomes an organizing force in society. When this happens, practices and values take on the characteristics of a “social institution”. Artifacts that trace this process within a food system deal with institutional structure.

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Within the tag family "The Food System."

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1. Institutional Structure Ways of representing food in context so that the systemic nature of food relationships is revealed.
  
  As a new practice or value grows in popularity and becomes commonplace over time, it sometimes becomes an organizing force in society. When this happens, practices and values take on the characteristics of a “social institution”. Artifacts that trace this process within a food system deal with institutional structure.
  
  Join the Discussion!
2. Information / Knowledge Building Examples and processes related to the ways that people are gaining knowledge about food in its systemic context.
  
  We all borrow food practices and values from other people. But what are the channels through which we do this? Under what conditions do some people become teachers, and others learners? Items that describe social patterns in these channels and conditions help to explain how “structures of information and knowledge” become a factor shaping the food system.
  
  Join the Discussion!
3. Food Production, Processing, and Preparation