Advancing equity in alternative food systems: funding models and communication strategies for inclusive community-supported agriculture

Dietary patterns have a significant effect on health and environmental sustainability. Current food systems favor calorie-dense, nutrient-poor options, fostering not only chronic diseases and ecological challenges, but also societal inequalities. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) has emerged as a promising alternative; however, accessibility remains a concern, particularly for low-income households. Cost-offset CSA (CO-CSA) models aim to make CSA accessible to economically disadvantaged groups. This study investigates the relevance and acceptance of CO-CSA among low-income households in Austria and Germany by exploring buying behavior, pricing, subsidies, and potential barriers to participation in CSA. Results from 184 Austrian and 260 German respondents highlight moderate familiarity with the CSA concept, preference for weekly payments, and willingness to pay an average of 24.12 euros (Austria) and 22.08 euros (Germany) per harvest share. Public funding has emerged as the most attractive subsidy option in both studies, differing significantly from member donations or income-adjusted pricing. Advertising and communication are challenging for CSA, but must also be considered by funding to provide credibility and reassurance to the target group. These findings underscore the need for active involvement of the target group in planning funding to enhance CSA accessibility and adoption among economically disadvantaged populations in Austria, potentially widening its societal and environmental benefits.