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Short food supply chains, labor productivity and fair earnings: an impossible equation?

Part of: RAF Social Disadvantage Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2019

Patrick Mundler Open the ORCID record for Patrick Mundler [Opens in a new window]  and
Jennifer Jean-Gagnon
Patrick Mundler*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Department of Agri-Food Economics and Consumer Sciences, Laval University, Pavillon Paul-Comtois, local 4423, 2425, rue de l'Agriculture, QuebecG1V 0A6, Canada
Jennifer Jean-Gagnon
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Department of Agri-Food Economics and Consumer Sciences, Laval University, Pavillon Paul-Comtois, local 4423, 2425, rue de l'Agriculture, QuebecG1V 0A6, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Patrick Mundler, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Given the limited number of middlemen in short food supply chains, producers marketing through such channels must carry out various tasks associated with production, processing (if applicable) and marketing. Since productivity increases with specialization, it is presumably difficult for such producers to achieve high levels of labor productivity in each of the tasks they perform (in terms of organizing the work and controlling for costs). This study reports on the results of a detailed analysis of the apparent labor productivity in each activity segment (production, processing and distribution) on farms in Quebec (Canada) that market through short food supply chains. We adapted the concept of a complex activity system and the Work Assessment method to reflect the context in Quebec and the unique features of integrated farming models based on direct marketing. In total, we analyzed work organization on 32 Quebec farms to determine how added value and work hours are allocated among different activity segments. Our analysis of apparent labor productivity highlights the heterogeneity of farms involved in direct marketing as every farm studied had a unique profile. In addition, work patterns reflected the background, choices and skillsets of farmers and different combinations of production factors were utilized. Overall, labor productivity was lower in production-related tasks, although this was often offset by higher productivity levels in other activity segments. Our results indicate that greater productivity in the areas of processing or distribution allows farms in short food supply chains to be financially sustainable. The findings of our study also confirm that farmers involved in direct marketing work hard to sustain their activity systems, even though net earnings are often low when compared to the amount of effort involved. However, farmers are partially compensated in other ways, such as through client appreciation and work enjoyment.

Keywords

Apparent labor productivitydirect marketingorganization of workshort food supply chainsWork Assessment method
Type
Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 35 , Issue 6 , December 2020 , pp. 697 - 709
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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