Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an economic and agricultural model based on partnership and participation between farmers and consumers, where farmers produce goods for consumers and both parties are committed to the long term maintenance and support of the farm.

CSA is often regarded as a model that brings environmental, social and economic benefits to all stakeholders.

The session aims to bring together the practitioners, the participants, the supporters and the researchers of Community Supported Agriculture to exchange knowledge and practice. Apart from sound agricultural knowledge what are the determining factors and conditions of successful and sustainable CSAs? What are the typical mistakes to avoid?

The session especially welcomes analysis and reports from the following areas: business management models, recruitment and retention of members, internal and external communication, organisational development, community building, involvement of volunteers, participatory guarantee systems, CSAs in disadvantaged areas or social environment, norms and values, cooperation strategies within and among CSAs. Case studies of initiatives that intends to support the CSA movement are of interest, among others educational, network, benchmarking initiatives.

Research papers on the above topics are highly appreciated as well as the introduction of CSAs and supporters.

This media entry was a contribution to the special session „A method and a movement: the progress of the Community Supported Agriculture“ at the 5th International Degrowth Conference in Budapest in 2016.