Today, around 1 billion people or nearly 30 percent of the world’s population works in agriculture, making it the single largest industry in the world, according to the World Bank. That’s well over 3.1 billion people! But did you know that only a tiny fraction of these people employ sustainable agriculture practices to improve their productivity, income, and the environment? 

In this article, we’ll examine community-supported agriculture (CSA) in the global context and highlight how it can help strengthen sustainable community development around the world.

Families living in vulnerable communities throughout the world can benefit greatly from effective, sustainable community development practices, whether these communities are previously war-torn or have been experiencing chronic poverty. 

Here are five reasons why adapting CSA to different socio-economic contexts can help communities become more prosperous and stable in the years to come. 

Developing communities require more than handouts to achieve lasting change and flourishing. To address long-term, systemic problems like poverty, climate change, and food scarcity, communities also need long-term, systemic solutions, which start with investing in the skills and talents of local people. This is why at World Renew, we focus on helping these communities develop sustainable agricultural practices so that they can become self-reliant in the long run.

CSA helps community farmers earn more for their crops, as more food is being produced and purchased locally within the community. Local farmers also have the long-term opportunity to expand their market and sell their crops regionally.

Another sustainable way to help farmers in these communities is to invest directly in their agricultural practices, ensuring they have the necessary resources and knowledge to adapt to climate change and to develop more sustainable and profitable farming practices over time.

You can read about how World Renew helped Vilma Lezama and her village in Honduras develop more sustainable agriculture practices through aquaponics.

In communities that are recovering from war and conflict, there is often a disconnect between family members who have been separated for long periods of time. For this reason, rebuilding community-led associations and groups is one of World Renew’s objectives when it comes to our ongoing community development programs.

CSA plays a positive role in helping families reconnect with one another, as it not only connects people with the food in their communities but also facilitates relationships between local community members.

Another way to build a sense of community is through savings groups. You can learn more about how World Renew has successfully rebuilt community trust and financial stability through savings groups here.

Community-supported agriculture can also contribute to a community’s economic development. For starters, CSA provides new employment opportunities for families within the community.

This is because CSA equips small-scale farmers, who would typically not be able to sell their crops en masse for profit, to productize their relatively small yields through communal processing and marketing.

When it comes to farming cooperatives, there are also strong economic benefits for families involved. Leng Puon joined an agricultural cooperative in her home country of Cambodia and is raising a herd of pigs, a decision that transformed the economic outlook of her family for the better. You can learn more about Leng’s story here.

CSA is an environmentally-friendly agriculture model which can have a direct impact on the well-being of families living within a community. Farmers can adopt environmentally-friendly practices, such as: 

• Limiting farmland expansion through small scale farming.
• Protecting biodiversity by using natural pesticides. 
• Preserving water and sanitation by not using polluting pesticides. 
• Limiting greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding slash-and-burn tactics.

Most importantly, CSA promotion of small-scale farming helps with water conservation, which is crucial for developing communities in remote or drought-affected areas.

Promoting sustainable agriculture practices around the world is achievable. With your help, World Renew can continue to implement innovative sustainable farming and development strategies in isolated communities worldwide.

Join the Climate Witness Project (CWP) to learn more about the ways that sustainable farming practices are making a real difference among families threatened by climate change and food insecurity. As a CWP member, you will also have the chance to assess your own carbon footprint, advocate for emissions policy changes in your local and national government, and connect with other passionate advocates like yourself. 

You can also donate to support our sustainable farm trainings that are underway in nearly 20 countries. Your donations will go straight to our ongoing sustainable agriculture projects throughout the world.