A geographical study on the evolution of agricultural space from the standpoint of quality coordination between production and consumption within alternative food economy

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22520789
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Human geography
• Research Institution: Aichi University of Education
• Principal Investigator: ITO Takahiro 愛知教育大学, 教育学部, 教授 (10223158)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 農業地域の自立的発展 / ポスト生産主義 / 農産物の品質 / 総合的病害集管理（IPM) / 慣行農法 / 農業イノベーション / ファーマーズマーケット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to make clear the relationships between evolution of agricultural space and alternative food economy. We examine the development of farmers' markets in the Tokai Region as a example of alternative food supply chains. Labeling of locally produced food is a key to increase the number of farmers’ market in the Tokai Region. Some rural areas have managed to convert their regional farming system to environment-friendly way from the end of 1990s. The characteristics of their system are defined as a hybrid between 'conventional' and 'alternative' modes through studying areas producing vegetables using integrated pest management. Farmers have not captured the economic value of their quality turn of farming. This is due to the lack of 'local' labels of their products. The story of 'local' is a key to contribute to a revitalization of farms oriented metropolitan consumers.

Free Research Field

農業地理学