Interorganizational networks in Communities Supported Federal District Agriculture

Abstract:

Family farming has undergone significant transformations that have led to the creation of new organizational forms, including the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), a model of associative and community economics. We sought to identify how interorganizational networks of sharing and commitment can influence the maintenance and development of the productive model of CSAs in the Federal District. For this, a bibliographic review and document analysis was carried out. Subsequently, a questionnaire was applied to the farmers, and the data were analyzed using the UCINET software. The NETDRAW tool was used to generate the graphics of the networks. The results found allow us to infer that the sharing network seems cohesive, which can influence the ability to generate value and foster organizational learning. In addition, the commitment network recorded the highest rates of density and cohesion, signaling the group’s degree of compliance with the CSA principles, which can influence innovation processes, productivity, and service to co-farmers. It was inferred that the productive model of CSA in the Federal District can be a viable alternative for the sustainable development of family farming. For future studies, it is recommended to include the trust network and expand the sample, incorporating actors from local businesses and public bodies where the CSAs are located, as well as technical assistance companies, which may be involved with the CSAs.

Keywords:
family farming; interorganizational networks; commitment; sharing; development