Sustainable Food for All – Study Shows How Community-Supported Agriculture Could Be Socially Just
A recent study byProf.( FH)Dr. Birgit Teufer, BSc BA MA, andIng. Vivien Marx, BA MA, uses surveys conducted in Austria and Germany to examine how community-supported agriculture can be made more accessible to low-income households through appropriate funding models and targeted communication.
Modern dietary patterns, with their emphasis on processed foods, salt, sugar, and fats, are facing increasing criticism—not only from health and environmental perspectives, but also from a social standpoint. A recent publication by the Institute for Economics & Psychology therefore explores how alternative models, such as community-supported agriculture, can be made more widely accessible.
The study focuses on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), an approach in which consumers directly support farms and receive a share of the harvest in return. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)—or “Solidarische Landwirtschaft” in German—is considered a promising model for a more sustainable food system. In practice, however, access is often limited to certain population groups—participation remains difficult, particularly for low-income households.
Overcoming the Financial Hurdle
International studies show that price is the biggest barrier. But how can this hurdle be overcome? The study is based on surveys of people from Austria and Germany. The results paint a clear picture: Public subsidies for harvest shares (for example, from the municipality) are strongly preferred. It is not only perceived as fair, but also prevents stigmatization and strengthens trust in the model as well as a sense of regional connection. In contrast, the internal redistribution mechanisms within CSAs promoted in international studies—such as people with higher incomes voluntarily or automatically paying a higher price—are less popular. Vivien Marx comments:“Our study makes it clear that public funding not only provides financial assistance but is also the preferred approach for the low-income target group, which evidently does not want other people—even if they earn more—to pay more for the same service.”
Trust Through Communication
In addition to financial considerations, communication plays a key role. Reaching new target groups requires transparent and understandable information. Trust and credibility are crucial, especially among people who have had little exposure to CSA so far.
At the same time, Birgit Teufer emphasizes the broader significance of the findings: The publication shows“that alternative food systems such as CSA are not only ecologically sound but can also be designed to be more socially just—if we take seriously the perspectives of those who are supposed to benefit from them.” For FERNFH, this is“an important contribution to research at the intersection of sustainability, health, and social justice.”
The results show that sustainable food systems can be relevant not only in terms of health but also socially, provided that social justice is taken into account. The study thus provides important insights for research, practice, and policy.
The article on the study, published in December 2025 in the journal *Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems*:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1693633/full
