Workshop 2.11

Convenors

Karlheinz Knickel, Independent Sustainability Strategies and Innovation Professional. SD Consulting Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Ika Darnhofer, BOKU - Univ. of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria. Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Economics. Dept. of Economic and Social Sciences.
Mark Redman, Free-range Rural Development Consultant and Owner. Director at Highclere Consulting SRL, Romania.

If you have any questions regarding this workshop, please turn directly to the convenors by sending an email.

Abstract

What type of farm modernization can be considered positive in view of the challenges facing our rural areas? Do we need to reorient, agricultural research and development? How about the millions of semi-subsistence farmers in Eastern Europe? We seek real-life examples of resilient farming systems that challenge classical paradigms. We are looking for case studies that express innovative development trajectories and adaptive capacity.

Description

What type of 'farm modernization' can be considered positive in view of the challenges facing our rural areas? Positive for whom, and using what criteria? Are specialized capital-intensive production systems really more 'advanced' than mixed farming systems? Is a 'family farm' more resilient than a 'corporate farm'? What changes in farming contribute to prosperous rural areas, and how? Do we need to rethink, and reorient, agricultural research and development? And where do the millions of subsistence and semi-subsistence farmers in Central and Eastern Europe fit into this discussion? In this workshop we want to explore the links between farm modernization and rural development. We do this at a time when the agricultural sector must respond to increasing resource scarcity and distributional demands. Given this new, dynamic context, economies, production systems and lifestyles must be transformed. The way we assess change – and identify which change is desirable – also needs to be adjusted. Resource-efficiency is no longer sufficient as a sustainability criterion. 'Competitiveness' and measures of 'growth' may well be expressions of the old 'race to the bottom'. New, more relevant concepts are needed and we propose to explore the usefulness of the contemporary concepts of 'resilience', 'synergy' and 'adaptive capacity'. In this workshop we want to translate some key ideas from Tim Jackson's book 'Prosperity without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet' into an analytical framework for the agricultural sector, together with the related research, policy and practice. Agriculture seems well suited to this 'translation' given that it is characterized by close links between social and ecological systems, is very diverse, and has strong connections with policy and markets. The papers we are looking for will assess the development of farming in relation to the wider societal and policy goal of vibrant and prosperous rural areas. We seek real-life examples of resilient farming systems, including those that challenge classical paradigms. We are looking for analyses that highlight synergies between farm modernization and sustainable rural development, maybe revisiting the strengths of the 'family farm'. We are looking for case studies that express innovative development trajectories and adaptive capacity. During the workshop, the discussions will focus on the added value of systems approaches and a renewed understanding of agricultural modernization. We will focus on issues that are particularly relevant for decision-makers, addressing the complexity of challenges, the diversity of situations, and the multidimensionality of strategies. We will identify factors that enable and encourage the creation of synergies in agricultural and rural development and discuss the potential role of the new European Innovation Partnerships. The workshop consists of two parts: First, a part where the key points from the full papers are presented (approx. 10 min. per paper). And the second part will be organized as a World Café for deeper discussion of the key issues raised in the papers. We aim to publish 6-8 particularly inspiring papers in a special issue of a suitable peer-reviewed journal.

Workshop process

The workshop consists of two parts: First, a part where the key points from the full papers are presented (approx. 10 min. per paper). And the second part will be organized as a World Café for deeper discussion of the key issues raised in the papers. We aim to publish 6-8 particularly inspiring papers in a special issue of a suitable peer-reviewed journal.