Some terms from the world of science and sustainability are not so easy to understand. But don’t worry – in our new series “Simply explained”, we break down complex topics and technical terms into understandable words. This makes science accessible, entertaining and exciting for you!
What is community-supported agriculture?
Community-supported agriculture is an agricultural model in which consumers and farmers join forces directly and share the risk and responsibility in agriculture.
Together, they contribute to the running costs for the growing season, such as land lease, seeds, tools and wages for the farmers. In return, consumers receive fresh, regional and fairly produced food from a nearby farm. The farmers in turn produce high-quality food under good working conditions for people they know personally.

Global solidarity for the right to food
Community-supported agriculture is an innovative, international phenomenon and a worldwide movement that is referred to in different ways: in English-speaking countries, for example, it is known as “Community-Supported Agriculture” (CSA), in Japan as “Teikei”, in France as “Associations pour le maintien d’une agriculture paysanne” (AMAP) and in Italy as “Gruppi di Acquisto Solidale” (GAS).
These agricultural associations can have different focuses and take different forms. What they all have in common is ecological and sustainable management, the promotion of small-scale and diverse agriculture and the view of food as a common good. You can find a current overview of Solawis in Austria here. The international network “Urgenci” currently offers a good overview of all European and global solidarity-based agriculture.

Why does community-supported agriculture exist at all?
Due to the devastating effects of industrial food production, more and more people in Europe and around the world are coming together to gain control over the production, distribution and consumption of food. People and their needs are always at the center of solidarity agriculture. The longer-term goal for these communities is food sovereignty – the right to determine healthy, sustainable and culturally appropriate food for themselves. Through long-term and binding agreements, community-supported agriculture can create a socially inclusive, economically viable and ecologically sustainable food system that can withstand future agricultural and food crises.