Community-Supported Agriculture in Central and Eastern Europe

This book analyses Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Central and Eastern Europe, providing a meaningful contribution to the broader discourse on sustainable agriculture and rural development in post-communist states. Drawing on comparative insights between Western and Central-Eastern European CSA models, the book addresses both structural and institutional factors influencing the functioning of CSA and offers a comparative perspective on the implementation of this model in Western and Central-Eastern Europe. Particular attention is given to the challenges and opportunities for its development, considering the region's socio-economic characteristics, institutional constraints, the level of social capital, and the growing consumer interest in local and organic food. The book draws on a detailed empirical study conducted in Poland, complemented with comparative insights from countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Romania, to identify common features and barriers to CSA development in post-communist settings. As the largest post-communist country in the European Union, Poland offers a valuable lens through which broader regional dynamics can be analyzed. The book explores the unique trajectories and structural challenges faced by CSA initiatives in transitional economies, identifying critical barriers and emerging opportunities in the development of collaborative food systems, highlighting the roles of both producers and consumers. It bridges the supply and demand dimensions of alternative food networks, offering a multifaceted interpretation of CSA's potential in reshaping agrifood relations in the region. By combining conceptual analysis with practical policy relevance, this book will be of interest to students and scholars of food and agricultural, rural development and sociology and environmental economics. It also provides actionable insights for policymakers engaged in designing resilient local food systems and promoting rural innovation.

Magdalena Raftowicz is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Spatial Management at the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland. Miroslaw Strus is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Economic Sciences at the University of Wroclaw, Poland.

Introduction 1. The Origins, Definition, and Operational Framework of Community-Supported Agriculture 2. The Role of CSA in Selected Theories of Rural Development 3. Opportunities and Constraints for the Development of CSA in Poland in the Context of Agricultural and Rural Transformation 4. Community-Supported Agriculture in Poland-Empirical Research 5. Recommendations and Future Directions for CSA Development General Conclusion