Assessing the Transformative Potential of Food Banks: The Case Study of Magazzini Sociali (Italy)

Food poverty and/or food insecurity have become a substantial problem in the advanced capitalist world, with growing portions of people struggling to eat healthy every day. At same time, just European Union (EU), around 88 million tonnes waste are generated annually. We call this paradox “food paradox”. The question is, how tackle paradox? banks usually presented as win–win solution paradox, despite being quite controversial. Indeed, highly contested because, according critics, they do not aim address structural causes, but rather only intervene on effects paradox. This paper develops PAHS conceptual framework, acronym prefiguration, autonomy, hybridization, and scalability, which provides four categories through explore transformative potential surplus redistribution initiatives. is adopted investigate case study Magazzini Sociali, bank project developed by IoPotentino, not-for-profit organization operating Potenza. results show good provide an example social innovation that can be replicated other contexts.