Diversified Farms Facing the Covid-19 Pandemic: First Signals from Italian Case Studies

Abstract

The paper focuses on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on some Italian farms. In particular, the aim is to investigate the consequences of the health emergency on diversified farms, their reactions, and their agricultural and rural policy needs in order to overcome the crisis. The research path investigates five farms of central Italy through semi-structured interviews. The identified case studies are characterized by the heterogeneity of features and farms’ activities. These activities include agritourism, on-farm processing of plant and animal products (mainly olive oils, fruits, and cheese), bio-energy production, tastings and leisure activities, educational farms, and contracting of farm equipment. A qualitative–quantitative analysis based on textual analysis techniques, particularly content and sentiment analysis, was performed. The results highlight the importance of farm diversification and networks in farms’ strategies in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis. Furthermore, the presence of both synergies and trade-offs in different types of diversification is found. These results have interesting policy implications that should be more explicitly taken into account to target the next rural development measures.

Agri‐food sector and entrepreneurship during the COVID‐19 crisis: A systematic literature review and research agenda

“…In particular, under these measures, in the first weeks of the pandemic, there was a considerable decline in labor productivity, higher labor and transportation costs, significant loss of income for farmers, food shortages and an increase in vulnerable products' prices such as vegetables and fruit for consumers (Ibidem). These measures have influenced and continue to strongly influence the structure of demand (Mastronardi et al, 2020) and, consequently, the entrepreneurial activity. Coordinated agricultural policy and programs are now needed so that the path to sustainable development is based on fair, green and healthy agri‐food systems (Blay‐Palmer et al, 2020).…”

“…A feature of the pandemic has been a switch from face‐to‐face to digital connections (Phillipson et al, 2020). Research by Mastronardi et al (2020) has shown that online sales have increased significantly. The share of sales, which has been lost due to the closure of Farmers' Market (FM), has been replaced by an equal amount sold to non‐profit organizations, such as episcopal curia, at reduced prices.…”

“…Nineteen studies were collected under the AGRI1 category of studies highlighting the impact of COVID‐19 on agri‐food entrepreneurship (Aday & Aday, 2020; Ambrozek & Beatty, 2020; Béné, 2020; Billah, Rahman, & Hossain, 2020; Bochtis et al, 2020; Bruno, Sexton, & Sumner, 2020; Dai, Feng, et al, 2020; Douwe van der Ploeg, 2020; Elleby et al, 2020; Ghadge, Kara, Mogale, et al, 2020; Hobbs & Jill, 2020; Lakuma, Sunday, Sserunjogi, Kahunde, & Munyambonera, 2020; Mahajan & Tomar, 2021; Mastronardi et al, 2020; Mastronardi, Romagnoli, Mazzocchi, et al, 2019; Mishra et al, 2021; Phillipson et al, 2020; Shahidi, 2020; Yang, 2020).…”

“…Some of the pandemic impacts on agri‐food are likely to become a habit and let this be why the change in tactics and policies applied to date. The pandemic has led us to focus more on the important role that food production and distribution play in the environment (Altieri & Nicholls, 2020; Di Vaio et al, 2020; Mishra, Bruno, & Zilberman, 2021), on climate (Mastronardi, Cavallo, & Romagnoli, 2020) and economic development (Mishra et al, 2021) and contributed significantly to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform (Mastronardi et al, 2020). The pandemic provides an opportunity for agriculture and nutrition, which is not merely an agricultural imperative but also a global enterprise imperative (Mishra et al, 2021).…”

Healthcare enterprises and public policies on COVID‐19: Insights from the Greek rural areas

“…At the same time, it points out that impact monitoring should be continuous and long‐term since enterprises recover at different rates. During the first phase of COVID‐19, Italian farmers sought cooperation with volunteers and the social economy, or the third sector, in order to address its effects, including social enterprises (Mastronardi, Cavallo, & Romagnoli, 2020). Research by Lucaci and Nastase (2020) examining the rural business environment in Europe during the first phase of the COVID‐19 spread found that the pandemic negatively affected the lives of rural residents and the business activity of these areas.…”