Between the farm and the fork: job quality in sustainable food systems

Abstract

Advocates for structural change in the food system see opportunity in alternative food systems (AFS) to bolster sustainability and equity. Indeed, any alternative to industrial labor practices is assumed to be better. However, little is known about what types of jobs are building AFS or job quality. Failing to understand job quality in AFS risks building a sustainable but exploitative industry. Using a unique and large data set on job openings in AFS, this paper narrows this gap by providing an assessment of labor demand and job quality for AFS in the United States between 2010 and 2019. Job advertisements are matched to 2018 Standard Occupation Codes to characterize work. Wages are compared to living wage standards and median incomes by occupation and local labor market. Considering living wage tests and local labor market competitiveness together, the potential for high job quality in AFS is mixed. Optimistically, higher prices in occupation that are close to consumers and experiencing significant labor demand, like food service and sales, saw more competitive wages. However, these roles frequently failed to offer living wages. Farm work occupations underperformed compared to local labor markets. In addition, uncompetitive senior-level jobs may indicate low-quality career pathways for leadership roles charting paths forward in AFS. These results suggest more institutional action are necessary to enhance labor quality within these spaces and more broadly across the food system. These results also raise questions about who is able to participate in AFS development and whether barriers to participate may replicate equity blind spots.

Exploring Consumer Behavior and Preferences in Welfare-Friendly Pork Breeding: A Multivariate Analysis

“…In fact, the FAW concept is considered an integrating part of the internationally organic principles on health, ecology, fairness and care, reflecting the expectation of consumers and farmers. As reported in several studies, consumers assume that organic livestock enjoys high standards of FAW [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ]. This assumption is based on the belief that organic farms prioritize the well-being of their livestock with specific requirements for animal welfare, such as access to outdoor areas and space to move and exhibit natural behaviors and restrictions on the use of antibiotics and hormones [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ].…”

“…As reported in several studies, consumers assume that organic livestock enjoys high standards of FAW [60][61][62][63][64]. This assumption is based on the belief that organic farms prioritize the well-being of their livestock with specific requirements for animal welfare, such as access to outdoor areas and space to move and exhibit natural behaviors and restrictions on the use of antibiotics and hormones [60][61][62][63][64].…”