ABSTRACT

Silvopastoral agroforestry systems combine the management of livestock and trees or other woody perennials on the same land. Aside from giving farmers an opportunity to diversify their income and reduce inputs, these systems have been shown to provide a number of ecological benefits. Given the growing demand for environmentally produced food, this paper assessed how farmers of silvopastoral agroforestry systems distribute their products in the context of alternative food networks (AFN). Applying Global Production Network (GPN) analysis, the distribution of output was assessed for eight farms in two Italian regions (Umbria, Lazio) following qualitative interviews. While farmers of the case studies partly rely on conventional supply channels and markets, all of them engage in alternative forms of food distribution, such as off-farm sales, home deliveries, and farmer-owned shops enabling direct exchange with customers. Paired with a focus on high product quality, it can be argued that these farmers also form part of alternative food networks. This practice does result in higher prices for directly marketed products, an easier management of product information at the point of sale, as well as high levels of traceability. Yet, the fact that only a few farmers advertise the environmental benefits of their production systems indicates some potential for further value enhancement, which could allow farmers to capitalize on the synergy of alternative production and distribution.

抽象的

席牧农林业系统将对同一土地上的牲畜和树木或其他木质多年生植物的管理结合在一起。除了使农民有机会使其收入多样化和减少投入外，这些系统还显示出许多生态效益。鉴于对环保食品的需求不断增长，本文评估了牧草农林业系统的农民如何在替代食品网络（AFN）的背景下分配其产品。应用全球生产网络（GPN）分析，在进行定性访谈后，对两个意大利地区（翁布里亚，拉齐奥）的八个农场的产量分布进行了评估。尽管案例研究的农民部分依靠传统的供应渠道和市场，但他们全都从事其他形式的食品分配，例如非农销售，送货上门，以及农民拥有的商店，可以与客户直接交流。结合对高质量产品的关注，可以说这些农民也构成了替代食品网络的一部分。这种做法的确会导致直接销售产品的价格更高，销售点上产品信息的管理更加容易，并且可追溯性很高。但是，只有少数农民宣传其生产系统的环境效益这一事实表明，有进一步提高价值的潜力，这可能使农民能够利用替代生产和分销的协同效应。这种做法的确会导致直接销售产品的价格更高，销售点上产品信息的管理更加容易，并且可追溯性很高。但是，只有少数农民宣传其生产系统的环境效益这一事实表明，有进一步提高价值的潜力，这可能使农民能够利用替代生产和分销的协同效应。这种做法的确会导致直接销售产品的价格更高，销售点上产品信息的管理更加容易，并且可追溯性很高。但是，只有少数农民宣传其生产系统的环境效益这一事实表明，有进一步提高价值的潜力，这可能使农民能够利用替代生产和分销的协同效应。