from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Natapol Thongplew (Ubon Ratchathani U), Kanang Kantamaturapoj (Mahidol U), Sittidaj Pongkijvorasin (Chulalongkorn U), Parcharapat Tawinnorppanan (Chulalongkorn U), and Pia Laborgne (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)
A new study on the sustainability of organic restaurant supply chains in Bangkok and Metropolitan Area (BMA) and Phuket in Thailand reveals both progress and challenges in the journey toward a more sustainable food system. Researchers have identified key sustainability dimensions—economic, environmental and welfare, sociocultural, and governance—that indicate how organic restaurants serve as crucial mediators between farmers and consumers. While the organic food movement is gaining traction, gaps in economic viability and environmental sustainability persist, pointing to the need for more collaboration and consumer awareness.
In a new JAFSCD article, Evaluating the sustainability of restaurant supply chains: A case study of organic restaurants in urban Thailand, Natapol Thongplew, Kanang Kantamaturapoj, Sittidaj Pongkijvorasin, Parcharapat Tawinnorppanan, and Pia Laborgne present initial findings from the international Belmont Forum SSCP project, “Co-creation of Sustainable Food Supply Chains through Cooperative Business Models and Governance” (CO-SFSC). This study aims to develop sustainability criteria tailored to urban Thailand, evaluate the current sustainability of the organic restaurant supply chain in BMA and Phuket, and compare the perspectives of farmers, restaurateurs, and consumers on supply chain sustainability. Corresponding author Kanang Kantamaturapoj can be contacted at kanang.kan@mahidol.ac.th
KEY FINDINGS
Strong Sociocultural and Governance Dimensions: Organic restaurants have successfully built relationships among farmers, restaurants, and consumers, promoting the local food culture and ensuring food safety through transparent communication and certification.
Economic and Environmental Challenges Remain: While organic food pricing is seen as fair, issues like job creation, renewable energy adoption, and water conservation are less prioritized by stakeholders. -
Consumer Awareness Needs Strengthening: Many consumers are unaware of sustainability efforts by farmers and restaurants, such as fair labor practices and energy-efficient operations, which limits their role in promoting sustainable consumption.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE -
Conducting quantitative methods to obtain measurable data regarding sustainability criteria (e.g., water footprint at farms and restaurants and carbon footprint of food miles) would be beneficial in accurately gauging the current status of the sustainability criteria and setting tangible targets for the sustainability criteria.
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The engagement of customers and consumers in the sustainable food supply chain should be studied to find suitable alternative ways in which to engage customers in the environmental and social sustainability of the supply chain.
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Want to support a truly sustainable restaurant supply chain? Ask where your food comes from and choose restaurants that work with local farmers! Read about how restaurants in Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand, are working to shorten the supply chain — getting more local food from farm to table. Access the full @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.143.015
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Photo above: Savor the taste of sustainability! This dish, made with locally grown organic vegetables, highlights the rich flavors of Phuket, Thailand, while supporting a greener future. Photo provided by the authors. |
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Lisa Meierotto (Boise State U), Rebecca Som Castellano (Boise State U), and Carly Hyland (UC Berkeley)
H-2A farmworkers in the U.S. live in a state of liminality–of transition and uncertainty—navigating systemic precarity as they move between their home countries and employment in the U.S. While the H-2A program offers benefits (such as legal passage across the border, a guaranteed minimum wage, and housing and transportation), the program also presents significant challenges. Some scholars claim the H-2A program is akin to modern-day slavery and argue that temporary agricultural workers experience unfreedom in their labor.
In a new JAFSCD article, “The ones who are on their best behavior keep coming”: H-2A farmworkers in Idaho, authors Lisa Meierotto, Rebecca Som Castellano, and Carly Hyland present emerging findings about the lived experiences of H-2A workers in Idaho. Corresponding author Lisa Meierotto can be contacted at lisameierotto@boisestate.edu.
KEY FINDINGS -
H-2A farmworkers in Idaho live in a liminal space, facing extended stays away from their families and isolation in their work environment.
- H-2A farmworkers in Idaho experience unfreedom. Factors contributing to unfreedom include debt, lack of transportation, and strict oversight of work and non-work activities.
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H-2A farmworkers in Idaho experience precarity, especially in terms of fears of speaking up over work conditions, and fears about whether they will be invited back to work in future years.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH
More ethnographic research with H-2A farmworkers is needed. There is very little regulation or monitoring of the H-2A system. Policy recommendations include increasing oversight of housing conditions and making sure H-2A farmworkers have workplace training, especially regarding pesticide exposure. Further research is needed on H-2A farmworkers’ access to health care, quality of housing, access to sufficient and culturally appropriate food, and other basic needs.
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Who grows your food? And at what cost? H-2A farmworkers come to the U.S. legally to fill essential agricultural jobs, yet many face significant hardships. New research from @BoiseStateU sheds light on the realities of H-2A farmworkers in #Idaho, focusing on pesticide exposure, financial struggles, and the emotional toll of temporary labor. These workers are essential—but are they being treated fairly? #H2A #farmworkers #unfreedom Read the full @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.143.008
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Photo above: A temporary farmworker plants crops in Idaho. Photo provided by the authors. |
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