Solidarity Purchasing Groups as social innovators: an analysis of alternative food networks in Italy

Davide Arcidiacono,Lara Maestripieri

doi:10.22325/fes/res.2019.26

Abstract

La mercantilización del sector de la comida y la creciente importancia de los minoristas de masas han creado una cadena de suministro desequilibrada donde, sobre todo, los pequeños productores y los consumidores son más débiles. En contra de este escenario, en los últimos veinte años la agricultura y los mercados de proximidad se han ido situando como espacios relevantes de experimentación de prácticas sociales innovadoras con el objetivo de solucionar esta anomalía y de reequilibrar la distribución del valor en el conjunto de cadena de suministro. Las cooperativas de consumo solidario forman parte de estas experiencias innovadoras y pueden representar una de las medidas más relevantes para contrastar el poder de negociación de los minoristas de masa. No obstante, el análisis en este artículo muestra como las cooperativas de consumo solidario son innovaciones sociales que sólo consiguen parcialmente el objetivo de reducir la marginalización económica de sus proveedores al crear una cadena de suministro alternativa.

Highlights

The need for social innovation in the domain of agriculture and food is sound
The impact on marginalisation of suppliers is the least stressed aspect in the current literature about SI. It is the main original element in the analysis proposed, as well as the framing of Solidarity Purchasing Groups (SPGs) as a social innovation in order to assess their concrete impact on the supply chain
The paper has analysed the role of solidarity purchasing groups in tackling the economic marginalisation of their suppliers and the consistency of their experience within the social innovation debate

Summary

Introduction

The need for social innovation in the domain of agriculture and food is sound. There is a growing interest on the part of scholars and activists who are mobilising around food, both in northern and southern countries, asking for more equity and transparency along the supply chain. The reason lies in the progressive marketisation of food and primary goods delivery following the success of mass retailers. This puts in question fair access to goods which are basic for life (The Foundational Economy Collective, 2018). Large retailers would improve the efficiency of the supply chain, ensuring a good profitability for food producers and more benefits for consumers in terms of more various, healthier and cheaper goods. E. reduced control of food sources, risk of fraud and adulteration, even higher prices § par 5). Such dynamics have promoted the emergence of processes of “resistance” (De Certau, 1988) or “reconnection” to the “foundational value of the food markets” (Bowman et al, 2014: 58)

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Conclusion