Small innovations make for big changes
Ideas that may seem simplistic at first glance, because they are on a human scale, can in fact create great social change. Think of the first initiatives of farmers' unions, the ideas of collective marketing, or the first farmers who set up seasonal subscriptions to vegetable baskets (community supported agriculture). While these are all now well-established ways of doing things, they were first proposed by individuals from the grassroots, not by groups of people in high places.
Thinking on this scale (villages or regions), helps to create ideas adapted our localities and their constituents’ specific needs. These new initiatives, rooted in communities, allow us to implement solutions that respond to their real needs in a concrete and realistic way.
Sky is the limit in agriculture
When you look at the different marketing channels that exist in the agricultural world today, there is quite a diversity of methods in place. However, there is always room for new ideas. Knowing that citizens sometimes criticize farmers for their lack of accessibility and flexibility, there is scope for new ways of meeting demand. The needs of consumers are expressed in a multitude of different consumption desires and thus, there is a way to respond in a plurality of ways. It goes without saying that some original concepts have emerged in recent years. Self-service kiosks on the farm or 100% online public markets are a few good examples. In this sense, agricultural marketing could be made up of a multitude of methods to satisfy an array of needs.
In all instances, no matter what crazy idea we have in mind for tomorrow's agriculture, there is only one way to know for sure if it will work or not... and of course, it's to try it.