Stakeholders
Consumers
Consumers play a dynamic role in the spread of local agriculture, and the demand for internationally traded goods. Recently consumers have shown a surge of support for local agriculture, but with populations growing around the world it is also apparent that we must continue to grow produce in regions that produce optimum yields in order to maintain a high level of global food production(Desrochers).
Small Scale Farmers
Many small scale farmers support the localism movement because it allows them to produce their food and give it directly to consumers in their community. Food with the designation "local" often also can be sold at a higher price because of its scarcity. However If strict localism is maintained these same farmers will suffer profit losses when they lose the ability to export their goods. Additionally if all farmers make this same transition to exclusively providing their own communities, they may experience an increase in competition, which will in turn is likely to drive down prices. Thus these small farmers have a huge stake in the localist movement, because the practices and policies of other farmers has a huge impact on their success.
Large Scale Industrial Agriculture
Most large scale producers trade regionally and internationally. These big agricultural companies do this to optimize production by growing their produce and livestock in ideal conditions, and shipping their goods to areas around the globe with the largest demand for them. Localism seeks to reduce our carbon footprint by shortening the travel distance between producer and consumer. Doing so would eliminate the supply chains sourced from these huge industrial breadbaskets. The supply generated by these gigantic farms greatly exceeds the demand in their local regions, so these corporations would be crippled if localism was adopted on a large scale.
Consumers play a dynamic role in the spread of local agriculture, and the demand for internationally traded goods. Recently consumers have shown a surge of support for local agriculture, but with populations growing around the world it is also apparent that we must continue to grow produce in regions that produce optimum yields in order to maintain a high level of global food production(Desrochers).
Small Scale Farmers
Many small scale farmers support the localism movement because it allows them to produce their food and give it directly to consumers in their community. Food with the designation "local" often also can be sold at a higher price because of its scarcity. However If strict localism is maintained these same farmers will suffer profit losses when they lose the ability to export their goods. Additionally if all farmers make this same transition to exclusively providing their own communities, they may experience an increase in competition, which will in turn is likely to drive down prices. Thus these small farmers have a huge stake in the localist movement, because the practices and policies of other farmers has a huge impact on their success.
Large Scale Industrial Agriculture
Most large scale producers trade regionally and internationally. These big agricultural companies do this to optimize production by growing their produce and livestock in ideal conditions, and shipping their goods to areas around the globe with the largest demand for them. Localism seeks to reduce our carbon footprint by shortening the travel distance between producer and consumer. Doing so would eliminate the supply chains sourced from these huge industrial breadbaskets. The supply generated by these gigantic farms greatly exceeds the demand in their local regions, so these corporations would be crippled if localism was adopted on a large scale.