Solidarity kitchens and decolonial approaches to public health in campinas, brazil
1
Food Science and Nutrition Department, School of Food Engineering, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A706
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
solidarity kitchens are community-based initiatives addressing hunger and food insecurity among socially vulnerable populations, primarily organized by civil society and social movements^1. in brazil, these initiatives operate within the national food and nutrition security (fns) system, contributing to the human right to adequate food and reinforcing territorial sustainability^1,2. despite improvements in national food security indicators^3, structural inequities, historical exclusion, and marginalization persist. approaching these initiatives from a decolonial perspective highlights the autonomy of local actors and the importance of grassroots responses to systemic gaps, offering a counter-narrative to the top-down, state-centric framing of public health^4,5.
METHODS:
this qualitative case study draws on participant observation in a solidarity kitchen in the metropolitan region of campinas, são paulo. data collection included field notes and descriptive observations of practices related to food and nutrition security, sustainability, and community organization, with attention to barriers, strategies, and expressions of autonomy and collective empowerment.
RESULTS:
the kitchen functions as a hub connecting social movements, religious groups, and local agricultural producers, combining food production, educational initiatives, and income-generating activities. practices include organic waste reuse for biofertilizers, literacy workshops, and bread-making courses. the study highlights tensions between community autonomy and state regulation, which may inadvertently constrain the self-determination of these initiatives.
CONCLUSIONS:
solidarity kitchens exemplify decolonial public health practices. the social initiative contributes to food sovereignty by strengthening community ties and local food systems, promoting collective agency, affirming marginalized identities, and generating locally grounded solutions to food insecurity. they demonstrate potential for replication in other territories, provided that external support respects local governance and cultural practices. recognizing these initiatives as part of the broader public health framework strengthens equity, sustainability, and social participation.
solidarity kitchens are community-based initiatives addressing hunger and food insecurity among socially vulnerable populations, primarily organized by civil society and social movements^1. in brazil, these initiatives operate within the national food and nutrition security (fns) system, contributing to the human right to adequate food and reinforcing territorial sustainability^1,2. despite improvements in national food security indicators^3, structural inequities, historical exclusion, and marginalization persist. approaching these initiatives from a decolonial perspective highlights the autonomy of local actors and the importance of grassroots responses to systemic gaps, offering a counter-narrative to the top-down, state-centric framing of public health^4,5.
METHODS:
this qualitative case study draws on participant observation in a solidarity kitchen in the metropolitan region of campinas, são paulo. data collection included field notes and descriptive observations of practices related to food and nutrition security, sustainability, and community organization, with attention to barriers, strategies, and expressions of autonomy and collective empowerment.
RESULTS:
the kitchen functions as a hub connecting social movements, religious groups, and local agricultural producers, combining food production, educational initiatives, and income-generating activities. practices include organic waste reuse for biofertilizers, literacy workshops, and bread-making courses. the study highlights tensions between community autonomy and state regulation, which may inadvertently constrain the self-determination of these initiatives.
CONCLUSIONS:
solidarity kitchens exemplify decolonial public health practices. the social initiative contributes to food sovereignty by strengthening community ties and local food systems, promoting collective agency, affirming marginalized identities, and generating locally grounded solutions to food insecurity. they demonstrate potential for replication in other territories, provided that external support respects local governance and cultural practices. recognizing these initiatives as part of the broader public health framework strengthens equity, sustainability, and social participation.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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