Dupé Philippine, Dedieu Benoît, Gasselin Pierre, Ollivier Guillaume
UMR Selmet, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France.
UMR Innovation, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France.
PLoS One. 2025 Jun 4;20(6):e0314175. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314175. eCollection 2025.
Over the last 20 years or so, farmers the world over have been expressing renewed interest in Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs). Since these marketing channels bring consumers and producers closer together, they are being promoted as a means for producers to recover more of the added value. They are also seen as a part of the solution to the problems associated with long supply chains. However, marketing via SFSCs means that farmers have to take on new tasks, which are likely to disrupt their existing work routines. We propose here to review the scientific knowledge available on the work of farmers in SFSCs.
We carry out a systematic analysis of the English-language literature using a multidisciplinary analytical framework of work. We consider five dimensions of work: 1) structural elements of work; 2) economic performance of work; 3) organization of work; 4) working conditions; and 5) occupation.
The theme of work is not prominent in the existing literature on SFSCs. While there is ongoing debate whether a switch to SFSCs results in increased farm incomes, it is clear that marketing through SFSCs relies on a large amount of poorly remunerated work. New tasks have to be added to work schedules, and new skills are required, making the organization of both productive and marketing work more complex. Various categories of workers are involved in undertaking these tasks, having to bear a heavy workload that is a source of stress and fatigue. However, the economic aspect aside, SFSCs appear to be conducive to farmers' self-fulfillment at work. Farmers derive particular satisfaction from their involvement in SFSCs since they are more in touch with consumers and because they are participating in the transition of food systems, despite the intellectually and physically demanding work they have to do.
We call for the study of farmers' work in SFSCs to be strengthened, by diversifying both the methodologies adopted and the case studies. Such knowledge should enable us to better integrate work-related issues into future public policies to support SFSCs.
在过去约20年里，世界各地的农民对短食品供应链（SFSCs）重新产生了兴趣。由于这些营销渠道使消费者和生产者走得更近，它们被作为一种让生产者获取更多附加值的手段加以推广。它们也被视为解决与长供应链相关问题的部分方案。然而，通过短食品供应链进行营销意味着农民必须承担新任务，这可能会扰乱他们现有的工作流程。我们在此提议回顾关于参与短食品供应链的农民工作的现有科学知识。
我们使用多学科工作分析框架对英文文献进行系统分析。我们考虑工作的五个维度：1）工作的结构要素；2）工作的经济绩效；3）工作组织；4）工作条件；5）职业。
工作主题在关于短食品供应链的现有文献中并不突出。虽然对于转向短食品供应链是否会增加农场收入仍在进行辩论，但很明显，通过短食品供应链进行营销依赖大量报酬微薄的工作。必须在工作时间表中增加新任务，并且需要新技能，这使得生产和营销工作的组织更加复杂。各类工人都参与执行这些任务，不得不承受繁重的工作量，而这是压力和疲劳的来源。然而，除经济方面外，短食品供应链似乎有利于农民在工作中实现自我。农民从参与短食品供应链中获得特别的满足感，因为他们与消费者有更多接触，并且因为他们参与了食品系统的转型，尽管他们必须从事智力和体力要求都很高的工作。
我们呼吁通过使所采用的方法和案例研究多样化来加强对参与短食品供应链的农民工作的研究。此类知识应使我们能够更好地将与工作相关的问题纳入未来支持短食品供应链的公共政策中。
