The Experience of CSA - Community Supporting Agriculture – A Review

Abstract

The following text is a presentation and discussion of the experience of the CSA, as a movement within agroecology, solidarity economy and education for a self-conscious consumption. A growing model of integration between the consumer and the farmer, known in Brazil, as CSA - Community supported agriculture is presented, and one discusses this way of marketing food, born within what is expected of sustainable agriculture. We ask the question whether, and to what extent, the movement can bring new perspectives to some current crises. The text is divided into two parts. First, we contextualize the term CSA, then we set a debate between solidarity economy and the search for a more conscious and self-critic consumption. Skimming through in databases, we can observe reports in which one can found the CSA initiative spread all over the world. In Brazil, the term Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been translated and has been adopted by Community Supports Agriculture (CSA). There is a market trend that points to a more solidary and conscious consumption. And also points to the consideration of the CSA model as an innovative opportunity for producers and consumers, as it addresses social, economic and environmental aspects.