Does agricultural structural change lead to a weakening of the sector’s social functions? – A case study from north-west Germany

Abstract

The ongoing shift towards fewer and larger farms is perceived negatively and is often associated with adverse social impacts for rural communities throughout Europe. Empirical evidence on the social functions of agriculture and how these are fulfilled is fragmented. Implications of agricultural structural change for the social dimensions of agricultural multifunctionality have thus remained poorly understood. Addressing this research gap, this paper explores whether, and, if so, how, the declining number of farms affects the social dimensions of agricultural multifunctionality based on a qualitative case study approach. The case we explore is a rural region in North-West Germany. Our case study suggests several linkages between structural change and the social functions of agriculture: first, a declining number of farms is closely related to farming activities being increasingly practised according to industrial logics, which has weakened socio-economic and socio-ecological functions. Second, farm exits have led to fewer farmers being engaged in voluntary work, implying a weakening of socio-ecological and socio-cultural functions. Third, income-diversification activities have gained importance relative to farming activities, reinforcing several of agriculture's social functions. Our results hint at differences between capital- and labour-intensive income-diversification activities with regard to (i) social functions being fulfilled, (ii) a potential departure from the predominant growth paradigm and (iii) the relevance of extending contemporary conceptions of what is part of agriculture. Based on our results, we put forward three claims to inform both future research and debates on policies aiming at a better alignment of agricultural development and societal expectations.