Social agriculture is a strategy to prevent the phenomenon of abandonment in mountain areas and areas at risk of desertification

Abstract

Mountain agriculture is characterized by several greater difficulties than lowland agriculture. In recent times, the globalization of markets has led to the marginalization of many farms. Against this backdrop, this paper has analyzed two models of value creation in mountain social farming. Social farming has social inclusion and socialization objectives. Social agriculture has different characteristics compared to traditional agriculture in that it integrates the production function for the market with the social function understood as a transfer of positive externalities that originate from agriculture and have repercussions on individuals in terms of the transfer of farming culture, production techniques and processing of agricultural products. The research results highlight the strong social connotation of the two social farms even though two substantial differences emerge: the privately managed social farm depends on public funding for these purposes; the social farm managed by charitable organizations is dedicated to self-financing and the practice of gift economy. These aspects are relevant in production scenarios where social farming is intended. • Social agriculture enhances marginal mountain areas. • Social agriculture creates conditions for the reintegration of people with disabilities into society. • Social farming is also based on the gift economy.