Characteristics and Attitudes Towards Food Safety Among Small-Scale Farmers in Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile

This study surveyed 80 small-scale vegetable farmers in Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region to investigate their characteristics, attitudes, and knowledge concerning food safety. The findings indicate that the surveyed farmers largely rely on informal sales channels, where buyers typically do not mandate food safety compliance. Although 65% of farmers reported following Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), only a small fraction held formal certifications, revealing a notable disparity between perceived and actual adherence. A prevalent misconception was identified, with 60% of farmers incorrectly believing GAP and food safety to be synonymous. This divergence can be partially explained by the farmers' heavy reliance on informal sales channels. Farmers generally expressed confidence in their production systems to deliver safe products and were satisfied with their pest, disease, weed control, and irrigation techniques. However, they displayed less assurance regarding agrochemical residue management, record-keeping, and product preservation. While acknowledging the need to evolve beyond traditional farming methods, farmers viewed GAP implementation as requiring substantial investment. A multivariate analysis revealed the existence of two distinct farmer groups, delineated by their attitudes towards food safety, market orientation, and perceived benefits of integration into the formal economy. Commercially oriented farmers using conventional agriculture showed a heightened awareness of the challenges in implementing GAP. Conversely, those focused on self-consumption and organic farming tended to underestimate these difficulties. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted public policies to bridge the gap between farmers’ current practices and formal food safety standards, addressing technical resource gaps, clarifying conceptual ambiguities, and fostering market opportunities.