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Seeding change through Community Supported Agriculture? The prefigurative potential of CSAs in South-Holland, The Netherlands

Pap, Annelise LU (2024) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20241
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Conventional agrifood systems significantly contribute to environmental degradation. While Community Supported Agriculture initiatives (CSAs) may provide insights into alternative agrifood systems, few studies have investigated challenges to their engagement with prefigurative processes. Through a case study of nine CSAs in South-Holland, the Netherlands, this thesis explores the extent to which CSAs can overcome challenges to their prefigurative potential. Research is grounded in theories of prefigurative processes and characteristics by Yates (2015) and Schiller-Merkens (2022a) respectively. Data is obtained through interviews with CSA representatives. None of the CSAs studied display all five processes of prefiguration, but six show all... (More)
Conventional agrifood systems significantly contribute to environmental degradation. While Community Supported Agriculture initiatives (CSAs) may provide insights into alternative agrifood systems, few studies have investigated challenges to their engagement with prefigurative processes. Through a case study of nine CSAs in South-Holland, the Netherlands, this thesis explores the extent to which CSAs can overcome challenges to their prefigurative potential. Research is grounded in theories of prefigurative processes and characteristics by Yates (2015) and Schiller-Merkens (2022a) respectively. Data is obtained through interviews with CSA representatives. None of the CSAs studied display all five processes of prefiguration, but six show all three characteristics of prefigurative organizing. Although many CSAs aim for systemic change, they avoid political meaning-making and diffusion due to fear of polarization and repercussions, public disinterest and time scarcity. Addressing these challenges and increasing collaboration may allow for bottom-up initiatives like CSAs to contribute more meaningfully to agrifood system transformations. (Less)
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author
Pap, Annelise LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Community Supported Agriculture, processes of prefiguration, characteristics of prefigurative organizing, challenges, the Netherlands, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2024:017
language
English
id
9154400
date added to LUP
2024-05-28 12:49:07
date last changed
2024-05-28 12:49:07
@misc{9154400,
  abstract     = {{Conventional agrifood systems significantly contribute to environmental degradation. While Community Supported Agriculture initiatives (CSAs) may provide insights into alternative agrifood systems, few studies have investigated challenges to their engagement with prefigurative processes. Through a case study of nine CSAs in South-Holland, the Netherlands, this thesis explores the extent to which CSAs can overcome challenges to their prefigurative potential. Research is grounded in theories of prefigurative processes and characteristics by Yates (2015) and Schiller-Merkens (2022a) respectively. Data is obtained through interviews with CSA representatives. None of the CSAs studied display all five processes of prefiguration, but six show all three characteristics of prefigurative organizing. Although many CSAs aim for systemic change, they avoid political meaning-making and diffusion due to fear of polarization and repercussions, public disinterest and time scarcity. Addressing these challenges and increasing collaboration may allow for bottom-up initiatives like CSAs to contribute more meaningfully to agrifood system transformations.}},
  author       = {{Pap, Annelise}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Seeding change through Community Supported Agriculture? The prefigurative potential of CSAs in South-Holland, The Netherlands}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}