STRENGTHENING SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DAIRY SYSTEMS

Paul Froning; Rike Stotten

Todos os Trabalhos

Trabalho

DOI

10.29327/9786527226680.1425811

Título do Trabalho

STRENGTHENING SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DAIRY SYSTEMS

Autores

Paul Froning
Rike Stotten

Modalidade

IRSA - Congresso Mundial de Sociologia Rural (01/10/2025 a 20/01/2026)

Área temática

IRSA 31 - Cooperatives and Their Role for a Sustainable Rural Future

Data de Publicação

06/08/2026

País da Publicação

Brasil

Idioma da Publicação

pt-BR

Página do Trabalho

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/sober-irsa2026/1425811-strengthening-social-capital-for-sustainable-mountain-dairy-systems

ISBN

978-65-272-2668-0

Palavras-Chave

Social capital, Values-based supply chains (VBSCs), Mountain dairy systems, Collective governance

Resumo

The global corporate agro-food system has increasingly marginalised food production in remote mountainous regions, where traditional dairy farming has historically utilised non-arable land for live-stock grazing. This decline has weakened local food value chains, despite the potential of mountain dairy systems to function as values-based supply chains (VBSCs) that integrate social, ecological, and ethical values into food production. This study investigates the role of social capital—bonding, bridg-ing, and linking ties—in shaping actor relationships within two mountain dairy systems in Grisons, Swit-zerland. Using a comparative case study approach, the research examines a cooperatively organised dairy sys-tem in Val Bregaglia and an independently structured system in Val Calanca. Through qualitative meth-ods, including semi-structured interviews and participatory observation, the study explores how social capital influences food production, distribution, and marketing in these rural contexts. Findings reveal that cooperative structures in Val Bregaglia foster both bonding and bridging connections, enabling collective governance, economic resilience, and stronger local networks. In contrast, the independent-ly organised system in Val Calanca relies heavily on bonding ties at the farm and family levels, with limited bridging and linking capital, resulting in fragmented market access and weaker collective governance. The study highlights the importance of strengthening social capital through new collaborations and revitalised relationships, particularly by building improved bridging and linking networks. Such efforts are essential for fostering territorial innovation, enhancing resilience, and ensuring the sustainability of traditional mountain dairy systems. By embedding social capital into their structures, mountain dairy systems can support rural livelihoods, preserve cultural values, and contribute to regional development. This research highlights the importance of participatory frameworks and transparent governance in addressing systemic trust issues and power asymmetries, thereby paving the way for sustainable and community-oriented food production in remote mountain regions.

Título do Evento: 16th World Congress of Rural Sociology and 64th Congress of the Brazilian Society of Rural Economics, Management and Sociology
Cidade do Evento: Porto Alegre
Título dos Anais do Evento: Anais do 64º Congresso da SOBER e XVI Congresso Mundial de Sociologia Rural (IRSA)
Nome da Editora: Even3
Meio de Divulgação: Meio Digital
DOI

Como citar

FRONING, Paul; STOTTEN, Rike. STRENGTHENING SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DAIRY SYSTEMS.. In: Anais do 64º Congresso da SOBER e XVI Congresso Mundial de Sociologia Rural (IRSA). Anais...Porto Alegre(RS) UFRGS, 2026. Disponível em: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/sober-irsa2026/1425811-STRENGTHENING-SOCIAL-CAPITAL-FOR-SUSTAINABLE-MOUNTAIN-DAIRY-SYSTEMS. Acesso em: 26/08/2026