Assessing the Resilience and Sustainability of a Hazelnut Farming System in Central Italy with a Participatory Approach

Elena Nera,Wim Paas,Simone Severini,Federico Antonioli,Pytrik Reidsma,Giulio Paolini

doi:10.3390/su12010343

Elena Nera, Wim Paas + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010343

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Abstract

European agriculture is facing increasing economic, environmental, institutional, and social challenges, from changes in demographic trends to the effects of climate change. In this context of high instability, the agricultural sector in Europe needs to improve its resilience and sustainability. Local assessments and strategies at the farming system level are needed, and this paper focuses on a hazelnut farming system in central Italy. For the assessment, a participatory approach was used, based on a stakeholder workshop. The results depicted a system with a strong economic and productive role, but which seems to overlook natural resources. This would suggest a relatively low environmental sustainability of the system, although the actual environmental impact of hazelnut farming is controversial. In terms of resilience, we assessed it by looking at the perceived level of three capacities: robustness, adaptability, and transformability. The results portrayed a highly robust system, but with relatively lower adaptability and transformability. Taking the farming system as the focal level was important to consider the role of different actors. While mechanisation has played a central role in enhancing past and present system resilience, future improvements can be achieved through collective strategies and system diversification, and by strengthening the local hazelnut value chain.

Highlights

In recent years, European farmers have faced an increasing number of economic, environmental, institutional, and social challenges [1]
The farming system is characterised by the presence of processing industries and wholesales interacting with the confectionary industries outside the system
During a feedback session on the visualisation, participants indicated that public support (e.g., Rural Development Program) and machinery development have a strong influence on the farming system

Summary

Introduction

European farmers have faced an increasing number of economic, environmental, institutional, and social challenges [1]. Farmers are experiencing an increasing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their activities [3], while being negatively affected by the consequences of climate change [4]. The farmers’ population is experiencing a demographic change, since the average age of farmers is increasing, with negative effects in terms of knowledge preservation and potential for innovation [5,6]. In this context of high uncertainty, the European agricultural sector needs to maintain its functionality despite perturbations, while ensuring that the present production levels do not compromise future functioning [7]. The SURE-Farm project (“Towards SUstainable and REsilient EU FARMing systems”) aims to assess the resilience and sustainability of farming systems across Europe [8]

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