Labor and alternative food networks: challenges for farmers and consumers

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 403-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Analena B. Bruce ◽  
Rebecca L. Som Castellano
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Alternative Food Networks ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Labor Intensity ◽  
Food Provisioning ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Food Networks ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAlthough alternative food networks (AFNs) have made strides in modeling socially just and environmentally sound agrifood system practices, the next step is to make these innovations available to more people, or to increase participation in AFNs. However, there are several barriers to expanding the impact of AFNs. The labor intensity of producing and consuming foods in AFNs is sometimes overlooked but poses a significant challenge to alternative agrifood systems’ long-term viability. This paper brings together two independently conducted empirical research studies, one focused on sustainable food production and one focused on food provisioning in the sphere of consumption. Farmers engaged in small-scale alternative food production are investing significantly more time in maintaining the health of their soils by practicing crop rotation, growing a greater diversity of crops and building organic matter with cover crops and compost. Because much of this work is unpaid, the added labor requirements pose an obstacle to the financial viability and social sustainability of alternative production methods. On the consumption side, the labor intensity of food provisioning for women engaged in AFNs, combined with other socio-demographic factors, at times, constrains AFN participation. By identifying the ways in which labor may limit the ability of AFNs to expand to a larger portion of the population, this paper helps shed light on ways of increasing the environmental, social and health benefits of AFNs.

scholarly journals EXPRESS: Forging forms of authority through the sociomateriality of food in partial organizations

2020 ◽  
pp. 017084062098023
Author(s):  
Stefano Pascucci ◽  
Domenico Dentoni ◽  
Jen Clements ◽  
Kim Poldner ◽  
William Gartner
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Alternative Food Networks ◽  
Food Provisioning ◽  
Food Networks ◽  
Method Analysis ◽  
Over Time

This study theorizes on the sociomateriality of food in authority-building processes of partial organizations by exploring Alternative Food Networks (AFNs). Through the construction of arenas for food provisioning, AFNs represent grassroots collectives that deliberately juxtapose their practices from mainstream forms of food provisioning. Based on a sequential mixed method analysis of 24 AFNs, where an inductive chronological analysis is followed by a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), we found that the entanglements between participants’ food provisioning practices and food itself shape how authority emerges in AFNs. Food generates biological, physiological and social struggles for AFN participants who, in turn, respond by embracing or avoiding them. As an outcome, most AFNs tend to bureaucratize over time according to four identified patterns while a few idiosyncratically build a more shared basis of authority. We conclude that the sociomateriality of food plays an important yet indirect role in understanding why and how food provisioning arenas re-organise and forge their forms of authority over time.

scholarly journals Conventionalization of Organic Agriculture: A Multiple Case Study Analysis in Brazil and Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6580
Author(s):  
Oscar José Rover ◽  
Adevan da Silva Pugas ◽  
Bernardo Corrado De Gennaro ◽  
Francesco Vittori ◽  
Luigi Roselli
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Alternative Food Networks ◽  
Metropolitan Regions ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Food Networks ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

The conventionalization of organic agriculture has been described as a process in which organic agriculture increasingly adopts the features of conventional modes of production based on industrial farming methods. The increasing supply of organic products to the large retailers is considered the main driver of conventionalization. This process has negative implications for the agrobiodiversity of organic farming systems. The present study aims to investigate and analyze the impact of retailing strategies on the agrobiodiversity of organic farms. A survey of farms located in rural areas near large urban centers (three metropolitan regions in Southern Brazil and four Italian regions) was undertaken. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The analysis indicates that the farms surveyed maintained a high level of agrobiodiversity and active participation in alternative food networks. Our findings point out that there was a significant and positive correlation between the crop richness index and the share of farm sales through alternative food networks. We conclude that adopting various forms of direct sale is the key factor in stimulating farms’ agrobiodiversity, but proximity to densely populated areas is a necessary precondition for the development of the short food supply chains needed to stimulate the diversification of organic agriculture.

scholarly journals Co-Creating Value in Sustainable and Alternative Food Networks: The Case of Community Supported Agriculture in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariarosaria Savarese ◽  
Kerry Chamberlain ◽  
Guendalina Graffigna
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Learning By Doing ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Community Supported Agriculture ◽  
Alternative Food Networks ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Food Networks ◽  
Strongly Connected ◽  
Consumer Perspectives

Background: Over recent decades, society has been facing different social, political, and economic challenges that are changing classical consumption dynamics towards more sustainable practices, mostly in the field of food consumption. In particular, alternative food networks are enabling new food consumption models inspired by principles of participation and sustainability. The aim of this study was to explore how community supported agriculture farms create value for sustainability practices from both farmer and consumer perspectives in order to find new levers to engage consumers towards pursuing better food consumption models. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted following focused ethnography principles. Results: The results show that community supported agriculture is a complex concept based on the active participation of consumers as carers of economic, social, and environmental values. These values are all strongly connected, and together contribute to create an ecosystem where sustainable food practices can be promoted through a “learning by doing” process. Conclusions: This research offers new ways to re-connect and collaborate with consumers in the era of sustainable food consumption.

How to avoid the tragedy of alternative food networks (AFNs)? The impact of social capital and transparency on AFN performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (7) ◽  
pp. 2171-2186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola De Bernardi ◽  
Alberto Bertello ◽  
Francesco Venuti ◽  
Enrico Foscolo
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Food System ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Alternative Food Networks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Networks ◽  
The Impact

PurposeAlternative food networks (AFNs) have recently emerged in the food landscape as new ways of food production, distribution and consumption which are alternatives to the traditional food system. Drawing on the tragedy of the commons, this paper aims to test the role played by social capital and transparency in reducing customer's lethargy and thus enhancing AFN performance in terms of frequency and quantity of purchases made by customers.Design/methodology/approachAn ordered probit model was used to analyse data from a strong database of 2,115 Italian AFN customers. Given the novelty of the topic, the quantitative survey was anticipated by a preliminary qualitative study based on in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observation.FindingsCustomers play an active role in AFN communities, co-creating value together with the other actors of the network. The two independent variables tested in this model, social capital and transparency, positively and significantly affect customers' quantity and frequency of purchases within AFNs, reducing the occurrence of the tragedy of commons.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge, this study represents one of the first attempts to measure, through a quantitative method, the effect of performance drivers (i.e. social capital and transparency) on AFN performance. Theoretical, managerial and policy implications will be thoroughly presented and discussed along the paper.

scholarly journals Alternative Food Networks Development and Multiple Actors’ Participation in China: A Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Yang
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Community Supported Agriculture ◽  
Alternative Food Networks ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Food Network ◽  
Food Networks ◽  
Alternative Food Network ◽  
The Government

This article reviews the studies about the alternative food network development in China, summarizes the results and identifies the issues for further research. It first introduces different theoretical perspectives in alternative food network studies in China, including community supported agriculture, nested market, short food supply chains and producerconsumer connection. The causes of rising alternative food networks are the serious food safety problem, the un-balanced power between different actors in the mainstream agrofood system and the increasing number of middle income citizens. Its development close relates to the changes in the international agro-food system. And the government dominates the establishment of the certification system and give limited support to the emerging food networks. The consumers and majority of producers are social elites, and the small scale farmers participate in the networks under the support of intermediaries. Further studies can pay more attention to following issues: the landscape of alternative food networks development in China, the value construction processes between different actors, the role of companies in alternative food network construction and introducing technical perspective of ecological agriculture into research.

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