Social Finance Ecologies: Interrogating Transformative Implications in Alternative Food Networks

This thesis explores social finance experiences of alternative food networks in Australia to understand how these experiences enable or constrain transformative change. Employing a qualitative design, the research deploys the financial ecologies theoretical approach to critically examine how systemic and situated social finance streams relate to alternative food networks, elaborating on the implications for transformative change. The thesis contributes to theoretical advancement by proposing the concept of financial ecotones, and offers fresh insights into new and emerging social finance practices shaping alternative food spaces, which could inform future strategies and policies.