Abstract
Social farming (SF) spread across Europe in recent decades. It represents an expression of agriculture diversification and performs a social function expressed through vulnerable individuals’ social inclusion. As a result, SF is able to generate positive externalities and thus contribute to social wellbeing. Despite benefits, SF faces several issues related to its dissemination. Although in recent years scholars have been approaching this topic, much remains to be researched. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate, through a systematic review, drivers and barriers related to the spread of this phenomenon. Results showed that factors such as the lack of information on SF, farmers’ mental limitations and the lack of economic resources, as well as excessive bureaucratization, could hamper the spread of SF. On the other hand, ethical production, new income sources, sustainable rural development and new employment opportunities can encourage the dissemination of such practices. In order to overcome the barriers and emphasize the drivers pointed out by this study, the role of policymakers is essential, as they should promote information and training activities for farmers and consumers in order to increase awareness of SF social value and encourage a collective approach to SF practices.
Highlights
It includes the cooperation between the health sector and non-profit organisations, aimed at combining agricultural work with the improvement of vulnerable people’s quality of life, which refers to social farming (SF) [4,5,6]
The main emphasis is on therapeutic activity, some initiatives focus on education as well as occupational or social inclusion [4]
This study focused, through the use of the systematic review tool, on the search for barriers and drivers related to the development of Social farming (SF) activities
Summary
In order to overcome the barriers and emphasize the drivers pointed out by this study, the role of policymakers is essential, as they should promote information and training activities for farmers and consumers in order to increase awareness of SF social value and encourage a collective approach to SF practices It represents, for small- and medium-sized farms, an opportunity to increase income, through the carrying out of practices and functions not exclusively linked to primary production and to strengthen the link between natural resources and rural communities [1,2,3]. Social farming refers to the set of practices that use the resources offered by agriculture and animal husbandry to provide social or educational assistance services, contributing to collective wellbeing [4,8] It mainly covers activities and services related to therapy, inclusion, rehabilitation, education and workforce training, using agricultural su132414008.
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