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

Author

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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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Hooks & Áine Macken-Walsh & Olive McCarthy & Carol Power, 2017. "The Impact of a Values-Based Supply Chain (VBSC) on Farm-Level Viability, Sustainability and Resilience: Case Study Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:2:p:267-:d:90299
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hooks Teresa & Macken-Walsh Áine & McCarthy Olive & Power Carol & Henchion Maeve, 2018. "Co-Operation among Irish Beef Farmers: Current Perspectives and Future Prospects in the Context of New Producer Organisation (PO) Legislation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Sabine Duvaleix & Marie Lassalas & Laure Latruffe & Vasilia Konstantidelli & Irene Tzouramani, 2020. "Adopting Environmentally Friendly Farming Practices and the Role of Quality Labels and Producer Organisations: A Qualitative Analysis Based on Two European Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Poczta-Wajda, Agnieszka, 2020. "Economic Viability Of Family Farms In Europe – A Literature Review," Roczniki (Annals), Polish Association of Agricultural Economists and Agribusiness - Stowarzyszenie Ekonomistow Rolnictwa e Agrobiznesu (SERiA), vol. 2020(4).
    4. Volkov, Artiom & Morkunas, Mangirdas & Balezentis, Tomas & Streimikiene, Dalia, 2022. "Are agricultural sustainability and resilience complementary notions? Evidence from the North European agriculture," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    5. Letizia Tebaldi & Barbara Bigliardi & Eleonora Bottani, 2018. "Sustainable Supply Chain and Innovation: A Review of the Recent Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-29, October.
    6. Roselia Servín-Juárez & Carlos J. O. Trejo-Pech & Alma Yanet Pérez-Vásquez & Álvaro Reyes-Duarte, 2021. "Specialty Coffee Shops in Mexico: Factors Influencing the Likelihood of Purchasing High-Quality Coffee," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-20, March.
    7. Anna Trunk & Hendrik Birkel, 2022. "No Resilience Without Partners: A Case Study on German Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Context of COVID-19," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 74(4), pages 537-574, December.
    8. Martin Javornicky & Áine Macken-Walsh & Anita Naughton, 2021. "Emerging Beef Producer Organisations (POs) in the Irish Beef Sector: An Analysis of Media Coverage in the Context of Nationwide Beef Producer Protests," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Richard Lynch & Maeve Henchion & John J. Hyland & José A. Gutiérrez, 2022. "Creating a Rainbow for Sustainability: The Case of Sustainable Beef," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-24, April.

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