Edible Empires: Redesigning Power, Place, and Resilience in the US Food System

Abstract

This paper critiques the structural inequalities in the US food system, shaped by short-sightedness, centralisation, and monocultural practices. It explores how architects and urban planners can redefine food infrastructure by adopting decolonial frameworks rooted in equity and sustainability. Drawing on theories by Jean-Luc Nancy and Achille Mbembe, the research provides case studies and adaptive solutions to transform foodscapes into resilient, community-driven systems. The work emphasizes a shift from profit-centric to justice-oriented models, bridging design innovation with long-term ecological and cultural stewardship. Finally, it calls for an expanded definition of architectural practice that prioritises systems change and responds to the unique ecological, cultural, and economic demands of a context.