Over the past decade, economic bubbles around the globe have burst, one after another. The negative impact has been felt in every corner of the world. Under consumerism, the economy has been led along a path of unrestrained development which has come to be the core value of our mainstream societies. This path has now come under strong criticism. Protest actions such as “Occupy Wall Street, say no to capitalism” and actions against globalisation and urbanisation have swept the world. The idea of developing local economies for sustainable living was previously upheld by only a few idealists. Now it has gradually become seen as a means for communities, and even governments, to improve the welfare of their people. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), the key factor of which is a dynamic local economy, emerged as early as the 1950s and 60s. It has been practised in communities in the West and in Japan for a few decades, and with its multiple values and functions, it has proved to be a viable route towards sustainable development. Even though the economic paths that Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have taken in the last three decades are different, we are faced with common ongoing social problems created by mainstream development ideologies, and such problems cannot be completely eliminated. In the past decade, PCD has been using CSA as a platform to encourage young people in China to reflect on their values and on the direction of the development of our societies. In this process we have found that CSA has an indispensable role to play in agriculture, urban-rural interaction, food safety, protection of natural ecology, traditional culture… and even the harmony and happiness of human beings in their everyday lives.
In the middle of last October, Kadoorie Farm &Botanic Garden and PCD jointly organised “Touching Ground, Taking Roots—A Seminar on CSA Experience”. Over 120 leading CSA practitioners from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan gathered in Hong Kong. For five days and nights they engaged in lively exchange which filled the participants with ideas, knowledge, skills and experience. They were also rewarded with the friendship of like-minded practitioners. We are glad we were able to provide this platform, and the opportunity for exchange between those who seek happiness for humans on the basis of a sustainable development. We will discover the ripple effects of the seminar from future feedback and sharing of participants. For now, the e-newsletter has invited some participants to share their thoughts on the three themes of the seminar—community; farmers and urban-rural interaction; and going local. We hope these articles will bring insights to other CSA practitioners who could not participate in the seminar.
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