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Community-controlled economic development as a strategic vision for the sustainable agriculture movement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Dave Campbell
Dave Campbell
Affiliation:
Director, California Communities Program, University of California, Davis CA 95616; e-mail: dave.c.campbell@ucdavis.edu.
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Abstract

The threat to sustainability posed byglobal economic integration and the surging interest in local and regional food systems provide an opportunity to unite the diverse constituencies of the sustainable agriculture movement behind a common political and economic agenda. Neither the campaign to influence the Farm Bill nor a romantic vision of bygone agrarian communities are sufficient to broaden the movement's existing political base and deepen its influence. This paper suggests an alternative approach: grassroots organizing guided by the vision of “community-controlled economic development.” Theory linking this new paradigm in local economic development to sustainable agriculture is presented, along with practical examples from innovative networks promoted by the California Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (CASA). I analyze the experience of CASA organizations, both separately and as an alliance, to illuminate how a strategic vision of community-controlled economic development can enable the movement to meet three difficult political challenges: holding power accountable; unifying environmental and social agendas; and developing strong leadership accountable to the movement's community base.

Keywords

social capitallocal food systemsgrower information networksmarketing coalitionsfarmland protectionfarmworkerscommunity organizing

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Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , March 1997 , pp. 37 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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