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March 03, 2025

Dr. Sophia Carodenuto’s latest study, published in , examines how scholars define and apply the concept of decolonization within food systems research. Through a systematic review of 112 English-language academic texts, the study highlights key trends, challenges, and gaps in the existing literature. With research on this topic expanding significantly—especially since 2018—Carodenuto’s work provides a critical foundation for understanding how decolonization is conceptualized in food studies and where future scholarship needs to go.

One of the study’s major findings is the wide variation in how decolonization is defined. Many scholars frame it as a process of reclaiming Indigenous foodways, resisting colonial structures, and promoting food sovereignty. Others emphasize its broader social justice implications, including the restructuring of power dynamics within food production, distribution, and governance. Despite these differences, the study identifies a shared concern: that “decolonization” risks becoming an overused buzzword, stripped of its radical political meaning. Scholars such as Moosavi (2020) and Sondarjee and Andrews (2023) caution that without deep engagement, the term could lose its transformative potential.

The study also contextualizes the growing interest in decolonization and food systems within broader social movements. Many of the reviewed texts were published following major events such as the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, the revelations of unmarked graves at former residential schools in Canada, and ongoing Indigenous land and water protection efforts like Idle No More and Standing Rock. These movements have fueled academic and public interest in the colonial histories embedded in food systems, as well as efforts to dismantle them. However, Carodenuto notes that much of this scholarship remains centered on North American perspectives, particularly on Indigenous resurgence and settler-colonial policy.

While some studies have examined Indigenous food sovereignty in North America, Carodenuto demonstrates how much fewer texts address food decolonization in regions where colonial histories are shaped by slavery, forced migration, or resource extraction—such as the Caribbean, Africa, and parts of Asia. For example, the study identifies only three papers exploring food decolonization in the Caribbean, despite the region’s deep colonial legacies tied to sugar plantations, indentured labor, and racial capitalism. Similarly, questions remain about what decolonization looks like in food systems where settler populations are minimal, but colonial structures persist through economic and political elites. Carodenuto calls for greater engagement with Global South scholarship and encourages researchers in the Global North to use institutional resources to support scholars from historically marginalized regions.

Ultimately, the research calls for scholars, institutions, and policymakers to critically reflect on how they use the term decolonization and ensure that it remains tied to tangible actions. True decolonization in food systems, Carodenuto argues, requires more than just academic discussion—it necessitates dismantling colonial structures, reclaiming food sovereignty, and supporting historically marginalized communities in defining their own food futures. The study provides a strong foundation for further research and encourages continued dialogue on what meaningful decolonization looks like in different food system contexts worldwide.