AMAP Case Study

First experiences about production, distribution, and consumptions in conventional agri-food circuits have been developed in industrialized occidental countries. Technological inventions, transportation progress, and commercial innovations are contributing to the development of “long chain” distribution all over the world. Although the biggest part of consumers still continue preferring conventional commerce chains, such as fast food, in the last years number of people who choose local food is growing up; this growth is related to movements which have the goal of the creation of a more sustainable economy. Thanks to the growth of this type of demand, agricultural Industries have the opportunity to change their commercial plans towards higher

For praxis, it is established a contract between a group of consumers and a farmer, defining together the type of products and the quantity for each season. The products are not standardized, and all that is picked should be consumed. Regarding mature products, collected in baskets, they are made available to consumers once a week, and their price is fixed. Producers AMAP undertake not to use pesticides and most of their production is certified as biologic. Pay in advance their contribution, consumers allow farmers to have a stable income can invest in the business, without making him face alone the risk of production. An aspect not to be underestimated is the almost total absence of pollution from transport, given that the consumer buys goods directly from the

This organization works to support the AMAP network in an international, national and regional (local) level. In Italy, the system is much more flexible for the informal nature that characterizes the organization of the groups.

O rg a n i za ti o n a l i n n o va ti o n About organizational innovations, promoters meet fewer difficulties related to burocracy, while producers show higher availability to cooperate; they build up associations or cooperatives which manage communication and selling activities. This aspects is very interesting because activities related to “iniziative toscane” (in particular those which are promoted by public organizations) use management modes too complex and heavy which could load producers excessively from the bureaucratic point of view. Basically, they should be samplified. An other fundamental aspect which characterizes AMAP respect to GAS is the signinf of contracts between consumers and producers. This kind of contract oblige producers to satisfy some duties (as GAS) and consumers have to give money in advance. AMAP consumers engage to respect the sharing of risk related to businesses, which depend from climate factors or pathologies