A Socially-Based Redesign of Sustainable Food Practices: Community Supported Agriculture in Italy

Alessandra Piccoli,Angela Genova,Adanella Rossi

doi:10.3390/su132111986

Abstract

Several grassroots initiatives in the last two decades have shown the need for different food practices that should be locally based and founded on ethical goals of social and environmental justice. Among the many “alternative food networks”, the Community Supported Agriculture model is particularly significant and interesting. By redefining meanings and social norms around food practices, this model actualizes significant processes of food re-socialization and re-territorialization. Focusing on Italy, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of the potential of this model. It does so through two investigations carried out in 2019 and 2020, aimed at analyzing, respectively, structural and organizational aspects of CSAs and the features of resilience shown by these initiatives during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. On the whole, the two surveys give us the image of a radically innovative experience, potentially capable of deeply redefining production and consumption practices, being rooted in socially-shared knowledge, motivations, willingness, commitment and sense of community. In addition to being characterized by a determination to pursue sustainability and equity goals, the model shows a remarkable character of resilience thanks to the original arrangements that the common value basis and the strong sense of interdependence and solidarity of its members can provide.

Highlights

The logic guiding these reorganization processes refers to the principles of food sovereignty [1,2]—the right of people to choose their own kind of food and food system
The perspective of social innovation confirms that, in its character as an innovation niche, the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model represents an advanced expression of the search for alternative food practices promoted by grassroots networks
This article aimed to explore the features of Italian CSAs and their potential from the perspective of a transition towards a more diversified and sustainable food system

Summary

Introduction

The development of several grassroots initiatives in the last two decades has reflected the need for different modes of understanding, producing and consuming food, aimed at re-localizing food practices and founding them on ethical goals of social and environmental justice The logic guiding these reorganization processes refers to the principles of food sovereignty [1,2]—the right of people to choose their own kind of food and food system. They foster the social and spatial reconnection around food, overcoming the separation of roles (between producers and consumers) and spaces (rural and urban) that characterize the dominant food system. They express the willingness to take care of essential natural resources, which are recognized for their multiple values and increasingly considered as commons

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