Promoting the conversion to community-supported agriculture – an interventional case study with German farmers

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) can be characterized as advanced agroecological systems with multidimensional sustainability effects. However, converting to CSA remains challenging for many established farms. Therefore, knowledge about what kind of farms are most likely to adopt CSA and what support strategies are effective for different farm types interested in conversion are needed. In this study, a participatory intervention was developed to support CSA conversion in four German regions. Eight farms – differing in size and product focus – completed the process and identified tailored conversion strategies (e.g. multi-farm CSA in collaboration with existing vegetable CSAs). The intervention was scientifically evaluated and successfully addressed information-related barriers, while resource constraints, such as difficulties in recruiting members and a shortage of skilled workers, persisted. Overcoming these challenges requires coordinated institutional support and wider societal engagement. The findings highlight the potential of participatory approaches in facilitating CSA diffusion and agricultural transformation.