Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
146 results(4 / 6)
Defining alternative food networks: A systematic literature review.
2018Rosario Michel‐Villarreal, Martin Hingley, Ilenia Bregoli · Lincoln Repository (University of Lincoln) · Global
This systematic literature review aims to clarify the concept of Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) by conducting a thematic analysis of academic definitions. The literature indicates a lack of clarity regarding AFNs, which are often defined by what they are not, rather than what they are. The study seeks to address this knowledge gap and contribute to theory and empirical development.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsEating Our Way to Sustainability? Leisure, Food and Community Economic Development
2018Jennifer Sumner · Sustainability · Global
This article reviews and synthesizes literature on food, leisure, sustainability, and community economic development to answer whether we can eat our way to sustainability. It begins with John Loxley's approach to community economic development and links the concept of sustainability with McMurtry’s civil commons. The article examines examples of food-related leisure activities like community gardens, CSAs, gleaning, and community kitchens, concluding that sustainability can be achieved if we choose activities that also enable others to eat.
CommunityEconomicsCSA & TeikeiClimate changeRedes alimentares alternativas e potencialidade ao desenvolvimento do capital social
2018Ronaldo Tavares de Souza, Eduardo de Lima Caldas · Estudos Sociedade e Agricultura · Global
Based on a systematic review of 45 articles, this study examined how alternative food networks can foster social capital development. The review identified five types of networks: own production, basket schemes, direct sales, community supported agriculture, and solidarity purchase groups. Reflection on observed examples indicated that groups formed by consumers showed the greatest potential for social capital development, followed by producer-started groups, basket schemes, and finally, production for self-consumption.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsPROMOTE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS USING E-COMMUNITY SUPPORTED SYSTEM
2018Amit Salunke, Ms. Shradha Shinde, Ms. Aishwarya Tone · International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology · Global
A web and Android e-Community Supported Agriculture (e-CSA) system was developed using the software development life cycle. A survey on the impact of local agricultural products through this application indicated benefits for both customers and farmers. Customers gain fair prices, fresh organic products, and access to rare items, while farmers can increase sales, minimize loss, and improve transportation control, contributing to local economic growth.
CSA & TeikeiDigital agricultureEconomicsCommunityKnowledge and Experience Related to Community Supported Agriculture and Local Foods among Nutrition Educators
2018Rebecca A. Seguin‐Fowler, Jared T. McGuirt, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Jennifer Garner, Karla L. Hanson, Jane Kolodinsky, Marilyn Sitaker · Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition · Global
This qualitative study examined nutrition educators' (n=20 in telephone interviews, n=17 in focus groups) experiences, knowledge, and beliefs about local foods. Most educators identified as local food advocates, but few had direct experience with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Variability across seasons, financial issues, and risk of spoilage were identified as challenges of using seasonal, local foods within programming.
CSA & TeikeiFood educationCommunityHealthGemeinschaftsorientierte Ernährungsinitiativen – Neue Chancen für eine nachhaltige Ernährungswirtschaft?
2018Irene Antoni-Komar · HiBiFo – Haushalt in Bildung & Forschung · Global
Civil society food initiatives and transformative enterprises like urban gardening projects, CSA, and food co-ops are considered pioneers for a sustainable food supply. These initiatives test community-oriented economics in the form of empowerment, solidarity, and prosumerism for a socio-ecological food transition.
CommunityCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsAdditional file 3: of Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK): An innovative community supported agriculture intervention to prevent childhood obesity in low-income families and strengthen local agricultural economies
2017Rebecca Seguin, Emily Morgan, Karla Hanson, Alice Ammerman, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Jane Kolodinsky, Marilyn Sitaker, Florence Becot, Leah Connor, Jennifer Garner, Jared McGuirt · Figshare · Global
This document compiles publication, presentation, and dissemination guidelines for an innovative Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) cost-offset intervention aimed at preventing childhood obesity in low-income families and strengthening local agricultural economies.
CSA & TeikeiHealthEconomicsWelfareKnow Food, Know Peace?
2017Emily Holmes · · Global
This chapter explores the potential of community-based agriculture as a practice of peace and active non-violence. Community-based agriculture encompasses various methods of growing food for local communities, including urban community gardens, urban farms, and small, biodiverse rural farms. These forms of agriculture are distinguished from conventional, industrial, or monocultural practices by their commitment to sustainable and organic growing methods, and their dedication to local communities.
CommunityCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceUrban–rural linkageFarm fresh in the city: urban grassroots food distribution networks in Finland.
2017Sophia E. Hagolani‐Albov, Sarah J. Halvorson · CABI eBooks · Finland
This chapter examines grassroots food distribution networks in Finland, focusing on their role in creating farmer-consumer linkages for urban foodsheds. It discusses and compares two networks: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), exemplified by the Herttoniemi Food Cooperative, and REKO Circles, which are based on the principle of 'fair consumption'.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceKözösség által támogatott mezőgazdaság regionális vizsgálata
2017Nóra Gombkötő, Judit Vincze, Judit Hegyi, Károly Kacz, Gombkötő, Nóra, Vincze, Judit, Hegyi, Judit, Kacz, Károly · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Hungary
A questionnaire survey was conducted among producers and consumers regarding Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) systems in Hungary's West Transdanubian region. The study found that CSA is not mature in Hungary and requires broader support. Producers were predominantly over 45 years old, with few engaged in animal product production, and primarily used traditional markets, missing out on other sales opportunities. Consumer awareness of CSA types was low, with only 25% preferring buyer communities and 3% each for subscription/box systems and share farming.
Governance failureCSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceClient selection and combination for farm perishable products
2017Nicolas Brulard, Van‐Dat Cung, Nicolas Catusse · IFAC-PapersOnLine · Global
This paper addresses the problem of selecting the most profitable client combination for a vegetable farm's perishable production. Farmers pre-qualify potential clients with varying product mixes, prices, contract durations, and labor requirements. A Mixed Integer Linear Programming model is presented to maximize farm sales profit, considering production and workforce capacities, and submodels describe demand characteristics for four client categories: farmers’ market, community supported agriculture, contract demand, and wholesalers.
EconomicsCSA & TeikeiPeri-urban agricultureCommunity Supported Agriculture: Crop Planning
2017Kenna McMurray, Kelsey Hall, Roslynn Brain · Digital Commons - USU (Utah State University) · Global
This fact sheet explains that successful crop planning is a key component for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations. Effective crop planning, which considers seasonality, planting schedules, and appropriate crops, can significantly improve CSA performance. The document aims to educate readers on the elements of an effective crop plan and its application in CSA.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsOpen Garden: a local organic producer–consumer network in Hungary, going through various levels of system innovation
2017Edina Vadovics, Matthew Hayes · · Hungary
A case study of the Open Garden Foundation, a local organic producer-consumer network in Hungary, was conducted. The foundation developed within a Central Eastern European socioeconomic context not supportive of radical solutions for the agricultural sector and rural communities. The study focused on the development of organic agriculture in Hungary, food consumption trends, opportunities for purchasing local organic products, and people's awareness of organic products. The Open Garden's management transitioned from the not-for-profit to the for-profit sector, while the main actors remained consistent.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceOrganic cycleFlowers
2017Dan McKanan · · Global
Rudolf Steiner's economic teachings and "threefolding" social theory influenced the development of green banking and community-supported agriculture (CSA) starting in the 1970s. Steiner advocated for "fraternal" cooperation within the economic sphere, inspiring cooperative enterprises and later contributing to social entrepreneurship and B-corps. This philosophy also led biodynamic farmers to establish CSAs, where consumers share farm costs and risks.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsCommunityCommunity supported agriculture (CSA) as a transformational act—distinct values and multiple motivations among farmers and consumers
2016Christine Hvitsand · Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems · Norway
This article explores why Norwegian producers and consumers engage in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), identifying distinct values and motivations related to environmental protection, justice, health, participation, and communication. While CSA demonstrates transformational power in the agri-food system through sustainable practices and power reallocation, the challenge remains to upscale these actions and prevent the dilution of core values and agroecological practices.
Limited or null effectCSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityClimate changeKözösség által támogatott mezőgazdaság a világban és Magyarországon = Community Supported Agriculture in the World and in Hungary
2016Piroska Nagy · Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) · Global
This study provides an overview of the development, geographical emergence, and key values of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) globally and in Hungary, using secondary research methods. The roots of CSA trace back to Rudolf Steiner's ideas in the 1920s, forming the basis for CSA movements in Germany, Switzerland, and the Americas. In contrast, the French AMAP and Hungarian CSA are based on the teikei communities that emerged in the 1970s. Both models were found to be motivated by consumers' desire for access to healthy food, with consumers initiating their establishment.
CSA & TeikeiFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityOrganic cycleUrban Gardening, Food Coops, Community Supported Agriculture: Transformative Wirtschaftsformen – Konsumpraktiken – Marktbeziehungen
2016Irene Antoni-Komar · HiBiFo – Haushalt in Bildung & Forschung · Global
This study evaluated how new food-related economic forms, such as urban gardening, food coops, and community-supported agriculture, contribute to reshaping consumption practices and market relationships to foster a sustainable food economy. Based on empirical data, the research elucidated the specific characteristics and transformative potentials of these initiatives. The question is whether these initiatives can transform the prevailing food system from the bottom up.
CommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCSA & TeikeiGender, Ethnicity, And Poverty
2016Michael Carolan · · Global
This chapter examines how gender, race, and ethnicity are theorized and studied within agri-food scholarship. It notes that Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) schemes and farmers' markets, even when intended for low-income minority groups, often serve affluent, educated European American consumers. Additionally, women in rural Ethiopia face significant problems in food security due to their social status and higher dependence on agriculture for survival compared to men.
Equity & displacementCSA & TeikeiWelfareMan ska odla för sina grannar
2016Emma Björkqvist · · Sweden
This study investigated the prevalence of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA, "andelsjordbruk" in Swedish) in Sweden and the motivations, drivers, and goals behind decisions to start them. Based on interviews with four CSA farmers in Sweden, it showed that they share several common motives, goals, and values in their respective operations. The study concluded that CSA appears to be part of a new social movement contributing to self-sufficiency and locally produced food.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceEn ny grön våg
2016Emma Stigson · · Sweden
A qualitative study investigating the development of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Sweden utilized literature reviews, interviews, participant observations, and digital media tracking. The findings indicate that CSA is relatively new in Sweden but is becoming more common, with the number of farms increasing over the past 3-4 years and now spread across the country. CSA contributes to ecological, economic, and social sustainable development in Swedish rural areas.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityEconomicsClimate changeCommunity Supported Agriculture Als Neuer Impuls Für Die Regionalvermarktung? Stand Der Forschung Und Abgrenzung Von Anderen Alternativen Lebensmittelnetzwerken
2016Marie Wellner, Ludwig Theuvsen · · Global
This paper provides an overview of the current state of research on Alternative Food Networks (ALN) and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) through a literature analysis. It aims to clearly define the research area by differentiating individual ALNs and presents the core elements of the CSA concept in the context of regional marketing.
CSA & TeikeiUrban–rural linkageEconomicsCommunityUnderstanding Markets and Marketing Strategies, and Challenges in Locally Grown Fresh Produce Industry
2016J. Dominique Gumirakiza, Laura J. Hopper, Gumirakiza, J. Dominique, Hopper, Laura · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · Global
An exploratory study of existing literature on locally grown food systems identified common findings, recommendations, and proposed priorities, key variables, and relationships for future research. Findings indicate that local food marketing through farmers' markets and Community Supported Agriculture, along with the benefits of local food systems to local economies (an ongoing debate), heavily dominate the literature. Prior studies commonly reported enthusiasm for locally grown fresh produce but presented diverging results regarding significant consumer characteristics.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceFood miles & supply chainCommunity Supported Agriculture and Preferences for Risk and Fairness
2016Kévin Bernard, Aurélie Bonein, Douadia Bougherara · 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts · Global
This study investigated consumers' preferences for attributes of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) contracts, focusing on risk and fairness preferences. Two incentivized field experiments were combined with a stated choice survey, interviewing 162 CSA members face-to-face. Consumers were found to be averse to advantageous inequality (AI) towards CSA and non-CSA farmers, and to disadvantageous inequality (DI) towards non-CSA farmers, but also showed evidence of DI seeking towards CSA farmers. Consumers preferred longer contracts, driven by risk rather than fairness, and exhibited a dislike for losses and share price increases.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsCommunityExamining a New “Pay-as-You-Go” Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Model: A Case Study
2016Marjorie Freedman, Juliana K. King · Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition · Global
This research surveyed 536 current and former J&P Organics farm CSA subscribers, categorizing them into four groups based on ordering frequency. Findings strongly indicate that a flexible pay-as-you-go CSA subscription model could increase subscriber membership and possibly ordering frequency, especially for those likely to order less frequently than weekly but who are otherwise similar to traditional pay-up-front subscribers in demographics, motivations, satisfaction, and subscription length.
CSA & TeikeiEconomicsCommunityAnchors in a Globalizing World [Book review]
2016Kimberley Curtis · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global
This book review covers Steven McFadden's "Awakening Community Intelligence," presenting his argument for the exponential expansion of Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs). McFadden believes CSAs have the potential to become "community cornerstones" and function as a "network of light-giving impulses" through digital networking, addressing 21st-century challenges.
CSA & TeikeiCommunityClimate changeFood sovereignty & justice