공동체 돌봄으로서 사회적 농업의 특성 : 완주와 제주의 사회적 농장 사례를 중심으로

Abstract

In Korea, social agriculture has experienced rapid quantitative growth and institutionalization through policy initiatives and legal frameworks. However, there is increasing confusion regarding the identity of social agriculture in practical settings due to the convergence of agricultural and care activities within the same space. The objective of this study is to establish the identity of social agriculture during the process of policy and institutionalization by understanding the direction and values it should pursue through discussions on community care. To achieve this, firstly, the concept of community care, which is crucial for constructing the identity of social agriculture, was analyzed. Community care involves collectively addressing care needs in the local community rather than solely relying on the state or market. Summarizing the identity of social agriculture through the characteristics of community care, we can define it as follows: (Agency) Stakeholders and local residents living together in the community's everyday life. (Connectivity) Building interconnected networks enabling diverse mutual support, relying on each other. (Relationality) Fostering a strong sense of solidarity or, albeit loose, intimacy among connected individuals through agricultural activities. (Asset-based community care) Serving as a social infrastructure for care. Secondly, four characteristics of community care were extracted and analyzed through case studies of social farms in Wanju and Jeju to understand how these characteristics are embodied in the practice of social agriculture. The analysis revealed that these characteristics are commonly manifested in both cases. Local residents emerge as central agents, forming diverse networks across agricultural and non-agricultural domains. Through enduring relationships, social farms ensure sustainability, while transitional relationships initiate changes in participants' lives. Moreover, as sites of care, farms emerge as valuable assets to the local community. It is evident that social agriculture holds potential as a form of community care. However, it's worth noting that there are significant challenges faced by social agriculture in practical settings, which were not extensively covered in this study. It is hoped that the findings of this research will contribute, albeit to some extent, to resolving the confusion experienced in the practical implementation of social agriculture.