Promoting Sustainable Development and Social Inclusion in Community Supported Agriculture – A Cultural-Behavior Approach

Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) has emerged as a counterbalance to intensive agriculture, contributing significantly to environmental degradation and climate change. By fostering direct interaction between producers and consumers (co-farmers), CSAs promote local economic development, adopting sustainable food production practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, CSAs represent an innovative alternative to conventional production and marketing models. From a culturo-behavioral perspective, this study investigated the reasons underlying members' decisions to leave or remain in CSAs and strategies to strengthen these communities. Employing a descriptive and exploratory approach, the research utilized an online questionnaire completed by 104 active members of Brazilian CSAs. The theoretical and methodological framework of behavior analysis provided the tools to analyze the behavioral variables influencing members' decisions to leave or remain and to evaluate their suggestions for strengthening these communities. Furthermore, CSAs facilitate the transmission of cultural practices and behavioral patterns that sustain pro-environmental and pro-social behaviors.