Community-supported agriculture (CSA): Significance and prospects for growth for individuals, communities, and food systems

Abstract Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is an alternative way of supplying food based on direct interaction between producers and consumers. As network (AFN) a form civic agriculture, it considered more sustainable production consumption compared to the conventional system. The number CSA initiatives has been increasing in last few decades worldwide parallel growing scholarly debates about its usefulness, viability potential. This article contributes review following: impacts individuals communities, including motives for involvement benefits received; systems, particularly sustainability; barriers opportunities growth. We conclude that addresses needs ecologically sound community building by reconnecting urban rural places people with their food. It also active position against unsustainable dominant systems shows different caring planet people. However, order grow, overcome certain barriers, namely financial difficulties, unrealistic member expectations need social justice providing livelihoods farmers becoming inclusive terms race, income gender. COVID-19 crisis presented opportunity become effective as demonstrated resilience during lockdowns demand products increased.