The Impact of a Values-Based Supply Chain (VBSC) on Farm-Level Viability, Sustainability and Resilience: Case Study Evidence

Teresa Hooks, Áine Macken-Walsh, Olive McCarthy and Carol Power
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Teresa Hooks: Rural Economy and Development Programme, Mellows Campus, Teagasc, Athenry, Galway, Ireland
Áine Macken-Walsh: Rural Economy and Development Programme, Mellows Campus, Teagasc, Athenry, Galway, Ireland
Olive McCarthy: Centre for Co-operative Studies, Department of Food Business and Development, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Carol Power: Centre for Co-operative Studies, Department of Food Business and Development, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: The ‘Agriculture of the Middle’ (AotM) development paradigm emphasises that in order to survive, family farms must transition from a supply chain approach to a values-based supply chain (VBSC) approach, involving amendments to both product type and actor dynamics within the chain. This paper presents a qualitative case study of a beef co-operative integrated to a VBSC. We use an analytical framework of viability, sustainability and resilience to analyse impacts at farm-level. Our analysis highlights a number of positive effects on farm-level viability, sustainability and resilience. These benefits stemmed largely from improvements to market orientation, price stability, and members’ capacities in responding to problems. However, the autonomy of the co-operative was challenged by VBSC chain members, which impacted negatively on the stability of the co-operative.

Keywords: co-operative; values-based supply chain (VBSC); viability; sustainability; resilience; family farm; beef (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:2:p:267-:d:90299

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