Role of small farms in regional food availability: insights from 25 regions in Europe

Abstract

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The important role played by small farms in reaching some of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is increasingly recognized by policy makers and researchers. It is generally acknowledged that small farms contribute to food production, conservation and protection of natural resources and landscapes and to diversifying rural economies. However, their specific role in regional food provisioning and food availability needs further exploration. In order to explore this, this paper uses a territorial food system’s approach.

A food systems approach has been chosen because it gathers all the elements and activities that relate to the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food, as well as the outputs of these activities, including the socio-economic and environmental outcomes. This is important because the role of small farms in the food system is, to a great extent shaped by the way in which farms are linked to value chains (also called commodity chains).

Additionally, and in order to understand how and why small farms are important for the provisioning of food in regional food systems, we adopt a territorial approach by which we explore the flows and relationships that comprise the food system at a regional scale (defined by statistical unit NUTS3) and consider how these unfold around regionally situated norms, practices, and traditions surrounding food and farming. Food availability at regional level depends on the productive capacity of the region and the efficiency and effectiveness of trade activities.

We based the assessment on 25 regional food systems from 14 different countries in Europe. Quantitative and qualitative data was drawn from more than 700 face-to-face interviews and 80 focus groups. Food system typologies have been used for comparative purposes and to reduce complexity. Results show many disparities across food systems due to territorial adaptations to different physical, socio-economic and historic realities, such as local regulations, small farmers’ profiles, consumers' demands, civil society and governance patterns. Some small farms are closely integrated and connected to other actors within the food system, others are more isolated. Presenting the diversity of these realities, and the role small farms play is key to inform policy-making for enhancing, protecting and supporting small farmers—a precondition to achieving the SDGs.