Is the choice of a farm’s commercial market an indicator of agricultural intensity? Conventional and short food supply chains in periurban farming systems

Abstract

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) have been identified as an economic opportunity for agriculture under urban pressure, as well as drivers for more sustainable farming systems. However, few studies have focused on the intensity of periurban farms that participate in such SFSCs, compared with the performance of the other farms. In this paper, we examined the relationship between agricultural intensity and the market orientation in a representative sample of farms in the urban area of Pisa (Italy). We define agricultural intensity as the intensity of land use and its main drivers (e.g., farm management or the individual characteristics of farmers), and market orientation as the ratio of farm produce within conventional, short or mixed foodsupply chains. The results suggest that the market orientation of periurban farming systems is more correlated to the indicators of farm management and land use intensity than to the individual farmer's characteristics. This result provides the first evidence that market orientation is a driver of intensity, and that individual farmer's characteristics are not significantly different in the three groups of market orientation. These findings could be generalised to other urban areas and correlated with the main orientation of farming systems in order to support both the assessment of farming systems and the implementation of innovative urban food policies.

Examination of Short Supply Chains Based on Circular Economy and Sustainability Aspects

“…Truly sustainable food systems should have a low environmental impact and, according to Al Shasmi et al (2018) [71], organic production is one of the best ways to achieve this. However, even SSC-trade and organic farming are not automatically considered environmentally friendly [30], nor can it be generalized that conventional supply chain farming systems would in all cases be environmentally more intensive than SSC-oriented ones [98]. Sustainability and product quality performance of SFSC-s are closely linked to the local context and market situation in which they operate [28].…”

Potenciais que influenciam o desenvolvimento das práticas de cadeias alimentares curtas

“…A proximidade proporciona aos produtores satisfação profissional, principalmente quando a cadeia envolve a integração de diferentes elementos, incluindo o apoio social (DUPRÉ; LAMINE; NAVARRETE, 2017). O apoio social gera satisfação ao produtor, permitido retorno financeiro, criação de empregos, práticas ambientalmente sustentáveis e a implementação de atividades educacionais na propriedade (FILIPPINI et al, 2016). Para Mundler e Laughrea (2016) as atividades educacionais nas propriedades auxiliam na capacitação dos produtores e no desenvolvimento de habilidades profissionais inovadoras.…”

Technical efficiency and productivity of farms: a periurban case study analysis

“…All these actions have the objective to exploit the local agriculture by supporting the link between urban dwellers and proximal farmers. To foster the PFS economic sustainability, usually farmers are invited to diversify their economic activity, through the multifunctional agriculture (Zasada, 2011) and the short food supply chains (SFSC) (Filippini et al, 2016b). Recreational services, social farming, and agritourisms are the most common multifunctional agriculture activities in periurban areas (Zasada, 2011), while the participation in farmers' markets located in the proximal urban areas, in solidarity purchasing groups, or the online and on-farm direct sale is the most common SFSC.…”

“…Nevertheless, the effective impact of all those experiences on the economic sustainability of PFS has been questioned (Demartini et al 2017 ;Venn 2006;Filippini et al, 2016b). SFSCs are not always driven by food producers, and their goals are not necessarily farmers' profit maximization (Venn, 2006).…”

“…SFSCs are not always driven by food producers, and their goals are not necessarily farmers' profit maximization (Venn, 2006). The profit is uncertain and unstable over the time (Filippini et al, 2016b), thus hampering the farming long-term sustainability. Farmers engaging in SFSC and multifunctional agriculture have not always the relevant expertise, with repercussions on the efficient management of the activity (Filippini et al, 2016b).…”