A new typology of small farms in Europe

Guarín, Alejandro; Rivera, María Dolores González; Pinto‐Correia, Teresa; Guiomar, Nuno; Šūmane, Sandra; Moreno-Pérez, Olga M.

doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100389

Cited by 62 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…It is challenging to evaluate these results concerning the nonlinear effects of diversification in the light of previous findings that implied that increasing diversification is key to the resilience and economic success of small European farms [ 11 , 28 ]. To the best of our knowledge, no prior study has explicitly analysed the impact of diversification on the performance of agricultural enterprises, and especially not in the case of farmers selling through SFSCs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 11 ] found that agricultural output diversification (and the combination of on-farm agricultural and non-agricultural activities, or on-farm and off-farm work) is a typical resilience strategy of small European farms. The actual type of product [ 24 ] as well as the level of output diversification [ 28 ] have been found to determine the commercialization strategies of European small-scale farmers to some extent (e.g. products requiring processing are more typically marketed through vertically integrated supply chains; or the market linkages and the actual choice of short food supply chain marketing channels differ among diversified and more focused businesses).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Farm diversification as a potential success factor for small-scale farmers constrained by COVID-related lockdown. Contributions from a survey conducted in four European countries during the first wave of COVID-19

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper explores to what extent product and marketing channel diversification contributed to the economic success of small-scale agricultural producers involved in short food supply chains after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted between April and July 2020 in four countries of the European Union–Estonia, Hungary, Portugal and Romania,–resulting in a relatively large sample of farmers (N = 421). The analysis was built on a semi-nonparametric approach. Approximately 19 percent of small-scale producers were able to increase sales during the first wave of the pandemic, although country-level variation was significant. Fruits and vegetables were by far the most popular products. The importance of specific channels varied across countries, but farm gate sales were among the most important marketing channels both before and during the first wave. The importance of channels that were based on digital resources and home delivery increased. Our evidence indicates that diversification was a strategy that paid off, both in terms of marketing channels and different product categories. However, the impact appears to be nonlinear; the initial advantage generated by diversification rapidly tapered off, either temporarily (in the case of products), or permanently (in the case of marketing channels). Later research may clarify whether these findings are generalizable in other socio-economic contexts, as well as in a non-COVID situation.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farm diversification as a potential success factor for small-scale farmers constrained by COVID-related lockdown. Contributions from a survey conducted in four European countries during the first wave of COVID-19

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It should be understood that some of the small-scale farmers that engage in a high level of self-provisioning do so not necessarily out of poverty but as a lifestyle choice; some small farmers are successful commercial entrepreneurs, while for others farming is a household coping strategy to reduce the risk and poverty [46].…”

Section: Addressing the Factors Militating Against Agricultural Technology Diffusion In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Small farms are crucial for global food security, producing between 50% and 75% of food calories consumed globally. Smallscale farming also provides key opportunities for employment and livelihoods, is a crucial part of rural communities and landscapes and plays an important role in environmental sustainability and supporting agricultural biodiversity' [46]. To promote widespread adoption of appropriate agricultural mechanisation, the critical factors militating against technology diffusion have to be addressed.…”

Section: Author Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potentials of Wood, Bamboo and Natural Fibre-Reinforced Composite Products as Substitute Materials for Fabricating Affordable Agricultural Equipment and Processing Machines in Africa

Olorunnisola¹

2021

Technology in Agriculture

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Modern agriculture depends heavily on technology. Land clearing, irrigation, drainage, crop storage and processing all require technological input. By modernising her agriculture, through wise application of science and technology, Africa can make significant headway in economic growth. However, an agricultural technology that is too sophisticated for a particular country/region is beyond its absorptive capacity. Hence, to achieve the objectives of agricultural mechanisation in Africa, it is imperative to take into account prevailing socio-economic conditions and the level of mechanisation necessary for optimal productivity. One major constraint to agricultural mechanisation in sub-Saharan Africa is the relatively high cost of imported metallic machine and equipment fabrication materials. Taking full advantage of substitute non-metallic materials may lower the cost of production and concomitantly empower rural fabricators with limited access to electricity and welding facilities to engage in local manufacturing of sundry agricultural machines and equipment. This Chapter presents illustrative examples of full and partial substitution of metallic with non-metallic materials in the fabrication of affordable machines and equipment for agricultural production, agro-processing, irrigation and drainage, crop drying and storage. Ways of addressing identified critical challenges of technology diffusion are also discussed.

show abstract

“…As a subfield of agricultural systems research, typology use has grown in recent decades with advances in multivariate statistics, the rise of exploratory data analysis, and improved access to agricultural 'big data' [42]. Typologies have generated important insights into the diversity, complexity, and underlying structures of agricultural systems [43]. However, recent studies stress the need to move beyond characterization and towards making typologies more topic-or hypothesis-driven, policy-relevant, and actionable [40,44,45].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Targeting Irrigation Expansion to Address Sustainable Development Objectives: A Regional Farm Typology Approach

LaFevor

Frake

Couturier

2021

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sustainable water management is a core sustainable development goal (SDG) that also contributes to other SDGs, including food and water security, ecosystem health, and climate adaptation. To achieve these synergies, policies must target efforts to regions that best correspond with development objectives. This study designs a targeting strategy for irrigation expansion in southern Mexico—a region long considered to have strong potential for sustainable irrigation development. We use an integrated farm typology and decision tree approach to identify priority municipalities for irrigation expansion. We use multivariate statistics to examine the relationships among farm characteristics in 933 municipalities, classifying each according to four farm types: lowland, midland, midland-irrigated, and highland. We then partition municipalities into 11 farm-type subgroups, each ranked by priority level for receiving irrigation interventions following Mexico’s National Water Program guidelines. Results identify a ‘highest-priority’ subgroup of 73 municipalities comprised mostly of midland and highland farm types. These types are characterized by low irrigation use, small farmland areas, high vulnerability to climate, high marginalization (poverty), strong representation from indigenous communities, low maize yield, and high rates of subsistence production. Findings provide a crucial first approximation of where irrigation expansion would best address water policy priorities and sustainable development objectives in southern Mexico. This study also provides a useful framework for scaling organizations tasked with targeting development efforts across large spatial scales.

show abstract

A new typology of small farms in Europe

Cited by 62 publications

References 39 publications

Farm diversification as a potential success factor for small-scale farmers constrained by COVID-related lockdown. Contributions from a survey conducted in four European countries during the first wave of COVID-19

Farm diversification as a potential success factor for small-scale farmers constrained by COVID-related lockdown. Contributions from a survey conducted in four European countries during the first wave of COVID-19

Potentials of Wood, Bamboo and Natural Fibre-Reinforced Composite Products as Substitute Materials for Fabricating Affordable Agricultural Equipment and Processing Machines in Africa

Targeting Irrigation Expansion to Address Sustainable Development Objectives: A Regional Farm Typology Approach

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About