Social Sustainability in Agriculture: Empowering Smallholder Farmers
Working in the food supply chain and agricultural sector, it is well known how complex the value-chain becomes when trading commodities across the world. Along this process, products go through many hands and contribute to the livelihoods of people in all corners of the earth. The food we grow and consume has a far-reaching impact on our world. Beyond taste and nutrition, our food choices influence the environment, the economy, and the well-being of countless individuals. As our CEO David Farrell wrote on strong sustainability in one of our previous blog posts, there is an interconnected relationship between economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. One might wonder what are the social factors in the industry, and how do we take care of them? Social sustainability in agriculture focuses on ensuring that the production and consumption of food contribute to a just, equitable, and resilient society.
The Human Cost of Food
Behind every bite of food lies a complex supply chain involving numerous individuals. Unfortunately, many of these individuals face challenges such as poverty, unsafe working conditions, and limited opportunities. It is estimated that there are about one billion people working in the agricultural sector across the world. These are the direct impacts that the sector has on people who are contributing to the supply chain. The sector then also plays a role in supporting food security and access to healthy diets for households. As a South African, thinking about social issues in the industry brings to mind our problems with food insecurity and how to better support smallholder farmers in rural areas. Smallholder farmers in developing countries, may struggle to make a living due to climate change, lack of market access, and inadequate institutional support.
The Importance of Social Sustainability
There is great value found in taking care of the people around us and of all social aspects of the world. Thinking about the well-being of people is beneficial to our economy, including the agricultural sector. It can be difficult to say exactly what value there is to different social factors, as we face different challenges and have different cultures around the world. Some of the main things that come out more clearly as having importance is ethical responsibility, community development, environmental protection and economic resilience.
Ethical responsibility: We have a moral obligation to ensure that the food we consume is produced in a way that respects the rights and dignity of all involved.
Community development: Supporting socially sustainable agricultural practices can contribute to the development of thriving rural communities.
Environmental protection: Social sustainability is closely linked to environmental sustainability. When farmers and workers are treated fairly, they are more likely to adopt sustainable practices that protect the environment.
Economic resilience: A socially sustainable agricultural sector is more resilient to shocks and crises. When communities are empowered and workers are treated fairly, they are better equipped to adapt to challenges such as climate change and market fluctuations.
It can be helpful to use an example of how social empowerment in the agriculture sector can have multiple benefits beyond the direct social value. If we think about the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and how we address these, it helps one picture the interconnected relationship of social, environmental and economic factors.
Smallholder farmers in developing countries often face a myriad of challenges that can hinder their ability to produce food sustainably and improve their livelihoods. These challenges include:
Climate change: Increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events can devastate crops and reduce yields.
Limited market access: Smallholder farmers may struggle to find reliable buyers for their produce, leading to low prices and income insecurity.
Inadequate infrastructure: Lack of access to roads, transportation, and storage facilities can make it difficult for farmers to get their products to market.
Financial constraints: Limited access to credit and other financial resources can prevent farmers from investing in improved inputs, equipment, and technology.
Lack of knowledge and skills: Farmers may not have the necessary knowledge and skills to adopt sustainable farming practices or to navigate complex market systems.
Social sustainability can play a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers. By promoting equitable relationships between farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders, social sustainability can help to:
Increase farmers’ income: By improving market access and providing farmers with fair prices for their produce, social sustainability can help to increase farmers’ income and improve their livelihoods.
Promote sustainable farming practices: Social sustainability can encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices that protect the environment and reduce their reliance on harmful inputs.
Strengthen community resilience: By building strong and resilient communities, social sustainability can help farmers to cope with challenges such as climate change and market fluctuations.
Reduce poverty and inequality: By empowering smallholder farmers and improving their livelihoods, social sustainability can help to reduce poverty and inequality in rural areas.
A promising example of social sustainability in agriculture is the AgriFoSe 2030 project in South Africa. This project focused on supporting smallholder farmers, particularly women, in growing sorghum and cowpea. By bringing together various stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, input suppliers, processors, retailers, and consumers, the project facilitated knowledge sharing, improved market access for farmers, and helped them adopt climate-smart practices.
From the AgriFoSe 2030 project, the main key outcomes were:
Empowered smallholder farmers: The project provided farmers with training, technical assistance, and access to markets, enabling them to increase their income and improve their livelihoods.
Promoted sustainable practices: Farmers learned about climate-smart agricultural techniques, such as using drought-resistant varieties and reducing pesticide use.
Strengthened community resilience: The project helped to build stronger and more resilient communities by providing opportunities for collaboration and economic development.
Improved food security: By increasing the production of nutritious and affordable crops, the project contributed to food security in the region
The AgriFoSe project provides a great example of how tackling social issues within agriculture can bring great strides and improvements to communities and areas in terms of their overall sustainability.
The requirements for improved social sustainability in agriculture from this project can be seen as collaboration and partnerships between various stakeholders. Taking this lesson with us, we can see that in the greater picture, governments, NGOs, businesses, and consumers all have a role to play in creating a more equitable and sustainable food system.
Governments can provide essential support to smallholder farmers by investing in agricultural research and development, improving infrastructure, and implementing policies that promote sustainable agriculture throughout the supply chain. NGOs can provide technical assistance, training, and support to smallholder farmers, as well as advocate for policies that promote social sustainability at all levels of the supply chain. Businesses can play a role by sourcing their ingredients from sustainable suppliers and investing in fair trade initiatives. Lastly, as we are all consumers, if we have the financial resources, we can support social sustainability by choosing to buy products from ethical and sustainable sources.
Social sustainability in agriculture is essential for creating a just and equitable food system. In South Africa we can see that one way to achieve better social sustainability can be by addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers. By promoting sustainable practices throughout the sector, we can help to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious, affordable, and sustainably produced food.
References
AgriFoSe 2030: https://www.slu.se/en/collaboration/international/slu-global/agrifose/
Bacon, C.M., Getz, C., Kraus, S., Montenegro, M. and Holland, K., 2012. The social dimensions of sustainability and change in diversified farming systems. Ecology and Society, 17(4). https://www.jstor.org/stable/26269238
Sexsmith, K., Smaller, C. and Speller, W., 2022. How to improve gender equality in agriculture. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/how-to-improve-gender-equality-agriculture.pdf
Tirivayi, N., Knowles, M. and Davis, B., 2016. The interaction between social protection and agriculture: A review of evidence. Global Food Security, 10, pp.52-62. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211912416300359
FAO. (2024). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024. https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd1254en
International Labour Organization: Agriculture; plantations; other rural sectors https://www.ilo.org/industries-and-sectors/agriculture-plantations-other-rural-sectors