Participatory Guarantee System Research Articles

Synergistic effect of relational values in a participatory guarantee system: a case study of an ecoagriculture initiative in Taiwan

Synergistic effect of relational values in a participatory guarantee system: a case study of an ecoagriculture initiative in Taiwan

Mixed method evaluation of factors influencing the adoption of organic participatory guarantee system certification among Vietnamese vegetable farmers

AbstractIn markets where vegetables are commonly cultivated with heavy use of synthetic pesticides, it is particularly important for consumers to be able to identify genuine organic produce. Organic Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) certification offers smallholder farmers an affordable way to build trust among consumers and secure premium prices for their organic produce. In Vietnam, the demand for vegetables with no, or low, pesticide residues is growing. The attractiveness of PGS certification should increase accordingly, but the number of organic PGS certified farmers in Vietnam are stagnating or even decreasing. The aim of this study is to explain this paradox by investigating the factors that influence the adoption of organic PGS certification among Vietnamese vegetable farmers. We follow a mixed methods approach, combining a qualitative analysis of farmer interviews (n = 62) and a quantitative analysis of a farm survey data (n = 434) using a sample selection model that estimates adoption contingent on farmers’ awareness of PGS certification. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, we found that social relationships and positive attitudes towards farming and the environment drive the adoption of organic PGS. Barriers include insufficient knowledge of organic farming techniques, labour shortages, and ageing farmers. At the systemic level, support by (non-)governmental institutions facilitates adoption, but challenges such as lower yields and limited access to premium markets remain. To promote organic PGS among Vietnamese vegetable farmers, efforts should focus on disseminating organic farming techniques that boost yields, alleviate labour demands, and ensure secure markets for premium-priced organic vegetables.

Initiating transformation within a Dutch grassroots agri‐food initiative: An analysis of social processes

AbstractThis article brings new empirical evidence and nuanced reflections on the social processes of transformation within grassroots agri‐food initiatives that propose relocalised, decentralised and autonomous ways of organising around food systems. We facilitated and analysed a fieldlab on the initial phase of designing a participatory guarantee system with a Dutch consumer‐buying group (CBG) who explored ways to define, measure and assess sustainable production and consumption in collaboration with its producers. Our analysis focuses on three social processes that emerged from this fieldlab: (a) deepening of community relations around and through agri‐food; (b) learning in agri‐food initiatives and (c) politicisation of agri‐food systems. We analyse the manifestations of and limitations of these three processes concerning the CBG's attempt to become a local food community. We conclude that our findings bring about practical, theoretical and strategic implications to understanding the social dynamics of grassroots agri‐food initiatives within and beyond capitalist agri‐food systems.

Organic prodution in Minas Gerais: analysis of the cooperation circle controlled by certifiers

The present essay aims to identify, analyze, and propose diagnoses regarding cooperation circles, theorized by geographer Milton Santos, in the production of organic food, focusing on municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It aims to highlight the main interactions and connections between organizations associated with and linked to the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) and various educational institutions, which influence the production process towards a model of organic, participatory, and solidarity-based agriculture. The work also explores how these interactions manifest concretely in the formation of circles linked to PGS entities, such as Participatory Conformity Assessment Bodies (PCABs) and Social Control Organizations (SCOs). As results, the research presents cartographic products related to these agents, through an analysis of their activities at municipal and state levels, emphasizing how these connections can challenge the conventional certification process associated with predominant productive circles. Furthermore, a heterogeneous distribution of these circles is observed in the municipalities of Minas Gerais, where each presents its own scale of representativeness, focusing on different levels of production and interconnection. This typology of dynamics is evident in several municipalities of the state, underscoring the diversity of approaches, along with the importance of decentralizing the agroproductive model, promoting an organic, sustainable, and inclusive agriculture that meets local and regional needs and fosters the resilience of rural communities.

Comparing the Collaboration of Smallholder Farmers through Participatory Guarantee System Practices in Northeastern Thailand

Organic agriculture based on the participatory guarantee system (PGS) is frequently touted as a tool for improving ecosystem sustainability and self-reliance and for alleviating the poverty of smallholder farmers in Thailand. However, specific criteria must be fulfilled for products to be certified organic. In this paper, we investigate the similarities and differences between three cases of organic agricultural production (based on the participatory guarantee system) in four provinces in northeastern Thailand: Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, and Nakhon Ratchasima. A total of 135 smallholder farmers were selected to act as informants, and semi-structured interviews were held. The participatory guarantee system was utilized, considering the farmers’ diverse agricultural backgrounds and socio-economic conditions. For agriculture to be adapted with the ultimate aim of sustainability, policy support will be necessary in the form of financial measures and capacity building.

An Assessment of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana in India

Organic farming has emerged as a solution for addressing the problem put forth by conventional farming and has become of vital importance for the public, especially farmers and policymakers. There are various programs and policies implemented by the government to promote the larger adoption of organic farming in India. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) was a centrally sponsored scheme launched in the period 2015-16 that aimed to encourage organic farming among the farmers especially the youth in the country and promote domestic organic markets through a cluster-based approach. The scheme promoted PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System) certification which implies organic certification based on mutual trust, following locally relevant organic norms and mandates. From its launch till 2021-22, total funds of Rs 1661.46 crores had been released for the scheme before the merger of the scheme with Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). There were 32,384 clusters, an area of 6.53 lakh hectares covered, and 16.19 lakh farmers associated with the scheme. During the period 2015-16-2021-22, the CAGR for the organic farmland area under PKVY was 27.92 percent. This paper reviews existing literature and government reports to assess the basic structure, functioning, and performance of PKVY, the benefits derived by the farmers through the scheme, and the challenges faced in the implementation of the scheme.

Agricultura familiar agroecológica en Uruguay, aportes innovadores y contra-hegemónicos para la sustentabilidad

La agricultura familiar agroecológica en Uruguay tiene una trayectoria de más de treinta años y es crecientemente reconocida como una opción válida de transformación del sistema alimentario. Sin embargo, no se dispone de información básica e integral del sector. Se sistematizó la información recabada por la Red de Agroecología del Uruguay para los años 2020 y 2021, siendo esta organización la única que certifica para el mercado interno mediante un Sistema Participativo de Garantía. Los resultados obtenidos permiten definir varios aspectos del sector. El número de predios certificados aumenta 120% entre 2012 y 2021. La venta de alimentos ecológicos, principalmente hortalizas, alcanzó USD 6,4 millones en 2021 y creció 2,1 veces entre 2012 y 2021. El 92% de los predios son de tipo familiar. La participación de mujeres en la titularidad de las explotaciones es del 42%, un valor superior al promedio nacional. La producción se distribuye entre 111 especies diferentes. El 75% de los predios produce semillas propias y el 87% dispone de áreas silvestres para conservación. Las prácticas más comunes de manejo de suelo son el uso de abonos verdes, la rotación de cultivos, y el uso de compost y biofertilizantes. Los canales de venta directa al consumidor son los más frecuentemente utilizados. Por primera vez se presenta información integral representativa del mercado interno de alimentos ecológicos en el país. Se espera que estos aportes sean de utilidad para comprender los procesos de transición en agroecología y para apoyar la definición de las agendas de diversos actores vinculados a la agroecología.

Institutional change in community-based management for organic labeling: a case study from a Participatory Guarantee System in France

This paper investigates how the process of institutional change shapes community-based organizations, by considering both formal and informal governance rules over several different periods. For this purpose, we examine how the community-based management of organic farming has changed in the past five decades. The French association, Nature & Progrès (N&P), adopted a “Participatory Guarantee System” (PGS) to monitor compliance with their organic standard, created in 1972. Yet, following the European regulation “Organic Agriculture” enforced in 1995, N&P was excluded from the public policy framework for organic farming, which was reserved for operators that were certified by a third party. Ostrom and Basurto’s (Journal of Institutional Economics, 7(3), 3, 2011) analytical tool is useful to describe the changes in collective rules. Drawing on original data collected from N&P, we examine how institutional changes in the European legislation have affected the governance of a community-based certification scheme. We focus on prescriptions that rely on internal or external sanction mechanisms and discuss the implications for enforcement. Our results show that the N&P structure has become an institutionalized PGS. N&P members have managed to build a complex governance system to certify organic products despite the European restriction on access to the organic label. However, the conformity system used by local groups is largely based on unwritten norms, which can cause confusion and conflicts between users, especially since PGS communities are “evolving communities.”

The role of the state for managing voluntary food sustainability standards democratically

We have investigated the role of the state in the creation of democratic alternatives to private voluntary food sustainability standards (VFSS). Our study illustrates the complex relationship between civil society (in this case, the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) VFSS), private VFSS and state actors, and the supportive role played by the state in establishing a framework for a food governance system that delivers food according to the values of all stakeholders. The PGS system is an alternative for family farmers that was initiated by civil society organizations (CSO) to reduce certification costs and bring more autonomy to family farmers through its democratic governance structure (in contrast to other private governance schemes). However, the institutionalization and development of such a governance system (i.e. PGS), was supported due to the action of the state. One of the key contributions of this study is the proposed typology that can help to identify and assess how such governance systems are evolving (by assessing how mature the system is) and at the same time, pointing out areas where the state actors could further act to develop a more democratic governance system. These include institutional support, market institutionalization, demand creation, technical support, and financial support. Our findings show that a polycentric system of food governance can result in greater participation, transparency, and accountability compared to a governance system driven by private VFSS. These characteristics can help drive greater equity in the food system which may be the key to promoting a healthier and more resilient governance system.

How to boost the local trade of participatory guarantee system (PGS)-certified produce? A value chain perspective in Huánuco, Peru

To address issues of synthetic pesticides misuse, participatory guarantee systems (PGS) have been promoted as an inclusive certification mechanism in local value chains in many emerging economies. Most scientific studies and development programmes on PGS focus on operational aspects or supply side issues. On the contrary, demand side and the buying of PGS-certified produce have received far less attention. Our study contributes to this gap by applying a value chain perspective to identify potential incentives and obstacles to boost the trade of PGS-certified vegetables in Huánuco, central Peru. Using a mixed methods research approach, we map the value chain and describe actors' social practices and perceptions of synthetic pesticides. Our results show that the vegetable value chain is strongly dominated by local food and traditional (i.e. non-modern) distribution channels. We find that farmers, traders and consumers are aware of the health risks associated with synthetic pesticides, but note important mismatches between their perceptions on pesticide-free vegetables. Better collaboration and coordination among value chain actors, for instance under the form of a farmer cooperative and/or contracts with traders, may boost the trade of PGS-certified produce, but care should be paid to ensure regular supply of high-quality vegetables at a fair price.

Unmaking capitalism through community empowerment: Findings from Italian agricultural experiences

Capitalism – in the theorizations of sustainability transformation – has been largely taken for granted for its misleadingly assumed stability and homogeneity, thus limiting the scope for defining alternative futures, policy options and strategies for transformative change. Theorizations regarding sustainable transformative pathways have often overshadowed a nuanced landscape of normative and ontological pluralism thus contributing to generating techno-centric and top-down responses to issues such as access to food, farmers' control over the food-chain and global environmental change. The expansion of capital, under a mechanism of production-reproduction, with a constant attempt to subsume different forms of production into the global market, generates manifold temporal frictions that, on the one hand, contribute to the consolidation of the capitalist model and, on the other hand, give rise to conflicting elements and re-orientation of modernity in a process of “unmaking” of capitalism. This article, drawing upon empirical work conducted in Northern Italy, presents two experiences emerging from the scenario of local food networks, namely the “C’è Campo” Participatory Guarantee System and the “Ortazzo” Community Supported Agriculture project. These show elements and mechanisms of local community empowerment for unmaking capitalism from the inside, as steps for a sustainable and bottom-up transformation which do not necessarily imply the generation of socio-economic novelties ex-nihilo. The “conventionalization” of organic agriculture has pushed those actors who participate in local food networks to reconfigure their self-regulation towards a “bottom-up” approach driven by the adoption of PGS or CSA instruments as an attempt to secure or reacquire control over the market and the construction of quality. Convivial tools, in particular, are crucial for understanding - and finding responses to - the social, economic, cultural and environmental crisis that contemporary society is now facing.

RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FARMING METHOD FOR AN ORGANIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN BUKIDNON, PHILIPPINES

There are various methods or practices for sustainable farming. This study recommends farming methods that are appropriate and effective for organic vegetable production in Bukidnon and, in some way, serve as the basis for sustainable farming. Thus, this paper aims to recommend a sustainable farming method for organic vegetable production. Results of the study revealed that the organic focal person-key informants would highly recommend farming practices such as crop rotation, and intercropping for crop planning and management, composting, green manures and animal manure for nutrient management, pest and disease management, weed management, soil cultivation and tillage, plant propagation such as traditional varieties and seed conservation, and diversified farming system. As reported, there are no specific local markets for organic products in Bukidnon, as well as international markets. Among the issues and concerns raised by the key informants, organic certification is the topmost issue. This issue set a little drawback and discouraged some farmers from going organic. Recently, the senate in the Philippines finally approved the amendment of RA 10068, a bill recognizing the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). They can now certify organic producers, compared to before when only third-party certifying bodies could certify and label organic products.

Alternative certification system for supply chain sustainability: how stakeholder alignment affects institutionalization

PurposeThis study expands the isomorphic logic on the participatory guarantee system (PGS) alternative certification method, which aims to level the supply chain sustainability field to determine how the alignment of disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders (e.g. small/applicant farmers, local organizations, consumers and volunteer auditors) might neutralize the negative effects of stakeholder heterogeneity (SH) on PGS recognition.Design/methodology/approachThe sample comprised 113 multilateral matching questionnaires collected from disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders participating in the PGS activities of the Green Conservation Label managed by Taiwan's Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (TOAF). This study adopted hierarchical regression to test the hypotheses.FindingsStakeholder alignment, external community (EC) constructs, similar backgrounds (SBs) and value congruence (VC) diminish the negative effects of SH on PGS recognition.Social implicationsPGS is an agrifood supply chain social movement designed to allow underprivileged actors to enact solutions collectively to address social inequities and ecological problems through fair procedures, collective assignments and collaborative intentionality. PGS members who leverage VC, SB and EC will have a greater chance of successfully overcoming their institutional disadvantages.Originality/valueBased on the PGS activities initiated by disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders, this study transformed isomorphic logics, including coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphisms, into a mechanism with which individuals can build a governance structure that helps disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders develop alternative institutions by pooling their resources.

Organic agriculture: A fountain of alternative innovations for social, economic, and environmental challenges of conventional agriculture in a developing country context

• How organic agriculture-based innovations overcome societal challenges in Kenya was assessed. • Adoption of product, process, marketing, organizational and institutional innovations was noted. • These innovations overcome social, economic, and ecological challenges. • However, policy innovation is still limited. • The limited policy innovation requires more government effort. The discontent with the agri-food system changes prompted a shift from the modernization paradigm to the sustainability paradigm and the emergence of alternative innovations. This study identified organic agriculture-based innovations and assessed how they overcome the social, economic, and ecological challenges of conventional agriculture in a developing country context. Using data collected from Kenya, the study identified a range of innovations. Financial innovations were adopted, a peer learning system emerged, some organic farms diversified into a new non-conventional agricultural activity of agro-tourism, and resource use was deepened by turning resources once considered as wastes, weeds, and foodstuffs into more valuable products for controlling pests and diseases and maintaining soil fertility. New interdependent marketing channels, namely: organic farmers’ markets and basket delivery schemes were introduced. Online and peer advertising techniques were adopted to promote organic products. A participatory guarantee system of organic certification was adopted and new product standards were created. These innovations are overcoming many challenges in the organic sub-sector, including limited information, market risk, limited access to financial services and dependence on external markets, and limited policy integration. However, policy innovation is still limited. This requires an urgent effort from the Government of Kenya.

Enhancing agroecological practices among smallholders in developing countries: the prospects of a participatory guarantee system for Lebanon’s organic sector

Enhancing agroecological practices among smallholders in developing countries: the prospects of a participatory guarantee system for Lebanon’s organic sector

Challenges of the Participatory Guarantee System of the network of agroecological markets of Bogota-Region, as a strategy for certification and promotion of agroecology

ABSTRACT Many Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) are unsustainable because participatory processes requires time. This research focused on the coordination and implementation of actions to strengthen the PGS of the Red de Mercados Agroecológicos de Bogotá Región (RMABR). The methodology was the Participatory Action Research (PAR) with four phases: diagnosis, with semi-structured interviews with the promoters of agroecological markets of the RMABR to identify the state of the PGS; planning of strengthening actions; execution, with sixty participatory certification visits; and, evaluation, to apply opportunities for improvement of the PGS. The PGS of the RMABR is an example of governance where assertive participation is essential. Apparently, the main challenge facing the PGS was the contribution of time from its members, especially consumers and producers. However, the real challenge is more complex: who participates (diversity and equity), how (ability, motivation, trust, efficiency, continuity, communication, and procedures) and why (effectiveness), which must be managed assertively with ‘dynamic balance’. Technical challenges persist in the agroecological transition, the greatest in processing, less in livestock, and much less in agricultural production, above all the need to reduce dependence on external inputs persists, difficult given the low availability of family or hired work.

The agri-food system (re)configuration: the case study of an agroecological network in the Ecuadorian Andes

Social Ecological System (SES) research highlights the importance of understanding the potential of collective actions, among other factors, when it comes to influencing the transformative (re)configuration of agri-food systems in response to global change. Such a response may result in different desired outcomes for those actors who promote collective action, one such outcome being food sovereignty. In this study, we used an SES framework to describe the configuration of local agri-food systems in Andean Ecuador in order to understand which components of the SES interact, and how they support outcomes linked to five food sovereignty goals. Through a survey administered to mestizo and indigenous peasants, we analyze the key role played by the Agroecological Network of Loja (RAL) in transforming the local agri-food system through the implementation of a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). This study demonstrates that participation in the RAL and PGS increases farmers’ adoption of agroecological practices, as well as their independence from non-traditional food. Additionally, RAL lobbying with the municipality significantly increases households’ on-farm income through access to local markets. Being part of indigenous communities also influences the configuration of the food system, increasing the participation in community work and access to credit and markets, thus positively affecting animal numbers, dairy production and income diversification. The complexity of the interactions described suggests that more research is needed to understand which key factors may foster or prevent the achieving of food sovereignty goals and promote household adaptation amid high uncertainty due to global change.

Analyzing institutional changes in community-based management: a case study of a participatory guarantee system for organic labeling in Brazil

AbstractThe literature on collective action has poorly addressed processes of incremental institutional changes within organizations. This paper helps fill this gap by shedding light on how the community-based management of an organic label has changed following its formal recognition as a ‘participatory guarantee system’ (PGS). Ostrom and Basurto's (2011) analytical tool is useful to describe the changes in collective rules to address collective action problems that take place in standard-setting and labeling activities. Using original data collected from the Ecovida Agroecology Network – the oldest and largest PGS in Brazil –, we study the multi-scale changes in governance rules from the 1970s until today. We pay particular attention to the links between the institutional consolidation of PGS, its recognition by public authorities, and its adaptation to legal rules. We detail analytical operators indicating whether the introduction of the PGS rules at the national level was bottom-up or top-down. Our findings emphasize how local communities have been able to both adapt their governance system in response to the official arrangements concerning organic regulations, and influence national public arenas where these arrangements are defined. This form of co-management has been accompanied by a significant increase in the number of PGS-certified farmers.

Pemberdayaan petani perempuan dalam membangun pengelolaan pertanian berkelanjutan: Studi kasus usaha pertanian organik di Desa Claket, Jawa Timur

Women farmers’ vulnerability due to low access to resources, reduced soil fertility, and the inability of farmers to obtain added value in the market causes poverty upwards among women farmers. Empowerment is an essential concern to improve their quality of life. This study aims to analyse the process of empowering women in organic farming models and the Participatory Guarantee System for organic standards. The study was conducted by taking the case of women farmers community in Claket Village, Mojokerto Regency, East Java Province. The qualitative research approach with data collection techniques through interviews with 16 informants. The results showed that the farmer empowerment was carried out in two processes. Firstly, by changing conventional agricultural cultivation behavior into organic cultivation. Secondly, by establishing a Participatory Guarantee System for organic that can increase the autonomy of women farmers both in terms of cultivation and involvement in the agricultural chain system. Both empowerment processes can be carried out for women farmers despite they have low educational background, limited land, multiple roles in the household, or in older ages. In addition, patience, the nature of togetherness, and the desire to learn are the keys to the success of organic farming businesses in women farmers group.

Organic farming: assessment of the perception of practicing tribal farmers in Jharkhand

Organic farming aims to produce healthy and non-toxic food for consumers using natural inputs to eliminate anysubstance from farming system which is harmful to human as well as soil health. Organic farming is not a new concept but a traditional farming system with modern scientific techniques. Realizing the long-term positive impact of organic farming, Government of India is also promoting the organic farming on a large scale. In line with this, three villages of Angara block of Ranchi District have been developed as fully organic villages. To assess the general, attitudinal and control belief among tribal farmers towards organic farming, a study was conducted in two Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certified villages namely Dhurleta and Budhakocha of Ranchi district in Jharkhand state during the year 2019–20. Data for the study was collected through personal interview of the tribal farmers practicing organic farming using structured interview schedule developed for the purpose. A total of 50 farmers (25 farmers from each village) selected through systematic random sampling method formed the sample of the study. Findings of the study showed that about 76.80% farmers believed that organic farming is good while 61% of the respondents had favourable attitudinal belief towards organic farming. Majority of the population agreed that disease, pest control, marketing and complexity in certification are the major setbacks in large scale adoption of organic farming.