creators_name: Adler, Steffen
creators_name: Fung, Stephanie
creators_name: Huber, Gwendolyn
creators_name: Young, Lee
type: report
datestamp: 2004-06-16
lastmod: 2009-08-20 14:23:06
metadata_visibility: show
title: Learning our way towards a sustainable agri-food system Three cases from Sweden: Stockholm Farmers market, Ramsjö Community Supported Agriculture and Järna Initiative for Local Production
ispublished: pub
subjects: 7food
subjects: 5networks
subjects: 1community
subjects: 4social
subjects: 2farming
subjects: organics_countries
subjects: 6communication
subjects: 9education
full_text_status: public
keywords: Sweden, sustainable agriculture, consumer-producer links, local food systems, farmers market, consumer supported agriculture, case study, systems theory, adaptive management, communication, collaborative learning
abstract: This research is based on case studies of the Stockholm Farmers Market, Ramsjö Community Supported Agriculture, and Järna Initiative for Local Production. These cases are examples of alternative consumerproducer links in the Swedish agri-food system. An adapted SWOT analysis highlights key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and constraints in each case from the multiple perspectives of producers, consumers, the organization, as well as the environment and society. Diagrams show where learning opportunities exist in the three systems, and how the structure of the consumer-producer link influences learning processes. Implication assessments consider how each link may affect surrounding ecosystems and social aspects of the agri-food system. A framework for assessing a process of development identifies six components that contribute to agri-food system development. Four key issues are discussed in terms of their potential to significantly affect the development of the agri-food system: the length of the food chain linking producers and consumers, the definition of “local”, learning in the system, and what is really being sold – is it food, or values? Critical research questions are highlighted and recommended for future research.
date: 2003-04
date_type: published
series: Ekologiskt lantbruk
institution: Centre for Sustainable Agriculture
refereed: never
citation: Adler, Steffen; Fung, Stephanie; Huber, Gwendolyn and Young, Lee (2003) Learning our way towards a sustainable agri-food system Three cases from Sweden: Stockholm Farmers market, Ramsjö Community Supported Agriculture and Järna Initiative for Local Production. Ekologiskt lantbruk, 38.
document_url: http://orgprints.org/2838/1/ekolantbruk38.pdf