Social Farming Research Articles

The Evaluation of Social Farming through Social Return on Investment: A Review

In recent years, there has been a need for a shared methodology for evaluating social farming (SF) practices to verify not only their effectiveness but also their social and economic sustainability. The evaluation of SF has been highlighted using the methodology of the social return on investment (SROI) due to the potential of such approach regarding the quantification of social impact. The main purpose of this study is to provide an overview, through a systematic review, of the application of SROI to SF experiences to check the results comparability, both in terms of outcomes standardization and comparisons between SROI ratios. The results first show some similarities on the construction of outcomes that allow for the initial comparability of the results. Secondly, all the indicators calculated in the articles report a social return value of social farming projects that varies approximately from EUR 2 to EUR 3 per euro invested. Critical issues remain regarding the application of this methodology to SF practices, regarding the number of the applications of SROI to SF, the process of stakeholder engagement and the construction of outcome. There is a need for more studies that apply SROI to SF experiences in order to standardize the process of analysis.

Social farming in high mountain regions: The case of the Aosta Valley in Italy

This paper investigates and analyses social farming in the Aosta Valley, a tiny Italian mountain region in the Alps. It aims to highlight the features of social farming in this region, focusing on the social mission and economic sustainability.The paper first presents the literature on social farming, focusing on marginal and remote areas, and illustrating the main characteristics of Italian social farms. Secondly, it focuses on the findings coming from a qualitative investigation of three case studies of Valdostan social farms based on data collected from semi-structured direct interviews. The analyses reveal that social farming in the Aosta Valley fulfils a crucial social mission in areas with poor accessibility to social services.It is economically sustainable, basing its business model on the environmental and agricultural resources typical of high mountain regions.

Nurturing mental health and well-being using ordinary farms

Purpose This practice piece aims to review an occupational therapy led pilot programme – social farming as an intervention option in an adult community mental health setting in Ireland. It will also reflect on the practical implications of delivering the natural surroundings based programme through the COVID-19 pandemic and plans for the future development of such programmes in adult mental health services. Design/methodology/approach The Occupational Circumstances Assessment Interview Rating Scale (OCAIRS) was used to measure occupational participation (Forsyth, 2005). This was administered with participants’ pre and post their participation in the 10-week programme. An internal questionnaire was developed to further capture both the participant and farmer experiences of the social farming programme. Findings Whilst improvements were noted in a number of OCAIRS domains, it was difficult to identify small changes over a short period of time. The main domains of change were habits, roles, interests and personal causation. The success of the social farming placements was also reflected in the internal questionnaire. The pilot programme has resulted in the further development of the social farming programme and securing of funding for placements for five years. Originality/value It would be beneficial to consider other standardised assessments that assess quality of life and occupation for future placements. It is also beneficial to consider practical implications in delivering a social farming programme, particularly to those with barriers to transport. It is hoped this paper will contribute to the growing knowledge of social farming as a meaningful therapeutic intervention in mental health occupational therapy practice.

Care Farming: A Natural Therapy for Healthy Life

Care farming is a form of 'Green Care' providing opportunities for those suffering from a range of health problems to work in horticultural/agricultural activities as a means of physical health, promoting mental and social wellbeing. This type of naturebased therapy or therapeutic intervention uses farms and agricultural landscapes to boost mental, social, and physical health through routine farming activities for people with a specified need.

Potential People of Disability in Agriculture, as Social Farming in Japan, Compared with Other Countries

Potential People of Disability in Agriculture, as Social Farming in Japan, Compared with Other Countries

ФОРМИ ТА ПЕРЕВАГИ ІНКЛЮЗИВНИХ МОДЕЛЕЙ РОЗВИТКУ АГРОБІЗНЕСУ

The article is devoted to researching the scientific and applied foundations of building models of inclusive development of the agricultural sector and rural areas of Ukraine. Under modern conditions, the authors consider it expedient to consider increasing the level of inclusivity of agribusiness as a key strategic direction for achieving the goals of sustainable development of the national economy. Given the specifics and development trends of the agricultural sector of the Ukrainian economy, domestic agriculture can be defined as one of the most stable types of economic activity. In the future, agriculture may be able to provide the prerequisites for the revival of the national economy. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to find ways and tools for the implementation of inclusive development principles and models into agricultural practice. The set of advantages that the implementation of the principles of inclusivity in the practical activities of agribusiness structures can provide for all participants of the agri-food value chain is defined in this article. The main challenges and obstacles hindering the development of inclusive processes in agriculture are also identified here. Based on the study of foreign experience, the main forms of practical implementation of models of inclusive agrarian business were selected. Among them: models of contract farming; inclusive models of social farming; microfranchising; agricultural cooperatives, organizations and their group forms; public-private partnership; agricultural land lease agreements and agricultural management. Financial agrarian inclusion was defined as the economic basis for increasing the level of inclusiveness in the development of agriculture and rural areas. To characterize its content and nature in the methodological and practical plane, it was proposed to separate its four main dimensions, among them: 1) kinship, availability of financial resources and digital infrastructure; 2) increasing the efficiency of the use of financial resources; 3) inclusive regulatory agrarian and financial policy; 4) development of the potential of inclusive socially responsible agricultural investment.

Social Farms as Social Enterprises in the Czech Republic

Background: Social entrepreneurship has grown in popularity in the Czech Republic over the last few decades as a solution to the demand for long-term, socially responsible drivers of economic growth. As part of social entrepreneurship, social farming combines social services and the opportunity for work integration in a farm setting. This article employs EMES methodology to the study of social farming in the Czech Republic.Research objectives: Drawing on the findings of 15 case studies, the author analyses social farming in the context of the EMES model with a focus on the organisation and principal goals of Czech social farms.Research design and methods: The theoretical part is based on a review of the literature on social economy, social entrepreneurship, and social farming. The case study report that follows employs mixed data sets such as interviews, field notes, information gathered from publicly available sources, brochures, organisation laws, annual reports, newspaper articles and other media reports, as well as data from a variety of registers. Results: From a normative standpoint, social farming and social farms in the Czech Republic are comparable to those in Europe, but they are fewer in number and are subject to distinct regulation. Institutionally speaking, only social farms registered as institutes (zapsaný ústav) meet the EMES social enterprise criteria. Czech social farms are known for their emphasis on craftsmanship, tradition, volunteerism, strong bonds with a particular location, ecology, links with direct suppliers, solidarity, and non-monetary trade.

The Conditions for Carrying out Agricultural Activities in the Operation of Social Farm

The author intends to analyze an important issue in connection with the operation of social farms in Hungary, namely the issue of land acquisition and land use by legal persons providing social farm services. As the Hungarian regulations restrict land acquisition by legal persons, they exclude social enterprises providing social farm services from this possibility. This restriction makes the operation of social farms difficult. This article examines the respective regulation of four other countries in comparison with the Hungarian, and then advances de lege ferenda proposals for Hungarian regulation to allow and facilitate social enterprises providing social farm services acquiring land ownership or using the land.

The farm model based on constitutional value

The social farm, which also has a history of more than a decade in Hungary, cannot be called a new operating model. In its content elements, it combines the system of agricultural activity, social aspects and environmental values in a novel approach. The system of connection points creates the essence and novelty of social farms. The presentation and analysis of the constitutional foundations of each pillar highlights the values that strengthen the identity of social farms.

Protocol compliance and training to prevent residues

Protocols and their compliance are imperative for the dairy industry for food safety, animal welfare and care, employee safety, antibiotic stewardship and for the financial success of the dairy. The veterinarian can help farmers have clear, simple protocols, help them to train people to the protocols, and help them to evaluate the success of the protocols with data and re­cords. With regular review and training, we can prevent resi­dues in food and have successful animal care and viable farms.

DEATH AND DYING IN GREEN CARE FARMS

Abstract Green care farms form an alternative to traditional nursing homes for people with dementia and combine agriculture production with health-related, social and educational services. Twenty-four-hour care green care farms offer end-of-life care. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of healthcare workers and family caregivers with end-of-life care for people with dementia who died on a green care farm in the Netherlands. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted to explore their experiences with end-of-life care, including topics such as advance care planning, bereavement support and the influence of COVID-19. The study showed that most experiences were characterized by personal attention for the resident and family caregivers, and tailored holistic care. The duration of the dying phase was typically short, and most residents remained active until their final days. Despite the COVID-19 measures, healthcare workers and family caregivers still experienced adequate end-of-life care.

INNOVATIVE CARE ENVIRONMENTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract As part of the ongoing culture movement within long-term care several innovative care concepts for people with dementia are developing. These concepts radically change their physical, social and/or organizational environment in order to align care services with needs and demands of people with dementia, and providing meaningful activities. The current symposium will discuss the effects and possible working mechanisms of innovative caring environments for people with dementia across three European countries and the US. The symposium will start with a presentation describing the Homestead care model in the Netherlands, which is a care model that was developed following a co-creation study focused on translating scientific knowledge on nursing home care environments into practice. This is followed by three presentations about the effects of three types of innovative care environments for people with dementia: (1) farm based day care in Norway, (2) shared housing arrangements in Germany, (3) green care farms providing 24-hour nursing care in the Netherlands. The three studies on the effects of innovative care environments present a variety of designs (case study, cluster randomized controlled multi-center intervention study, and a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews) to study the effects on various outcomes (activities, physical effort, social interaction, mood, the number of hospital admissions for people with dementia, quality of life, challenging behavior, risk of falls, stabilization of cognitive abilities, daily life). The symposium will conclude with a reflection on these innovative care concepts from a US perspective.

HOW DO GREEN CARE FARMS FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE OUTDOOR SPACES?

Abstract Green Care Farms (GCFs) are an innovative care environment for vulnerable groups. This study explores the design, and the successful integration of the natural environments of GCFs. By actively integrating outdoor spaces into daily care, they may encourage residents to participate in meaningful activities. A case study was conducted on a Dutch GCF using mixed ethnographic methods. 129 hours of observations of daily life were combined with 24 semi-structured interviews with residents, family, volunteers, staff and management, and a focus group with staff. The physical environment was assessed quantitatively. Data was analyzed thematically and triangulated. Results indicate that some factors supported the integration of the outdoor spaces into daily care. First, the physical environment was specifically designed to stimulate residents. Second, the outdoors was easily and openly accessible for residents. Third, residents’ security was supported in several ways. Lastly, staff members creatively motivated residents to use the outside spaces.

End-of-life care for people with dementia on a green care farm during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

ObjectiveGreen care farms combine agriculture production with health-related, social and educational services. In the Netherlands, they form an alternative to traditional nursing homes for people with dementia. Green care farms that offer 24-hour care, also offers end-of-life care. To date, little is known about end-of-life care for people with dementia on green care farms. This study aimed to explore the experiences of healthcare workers and family caregivers with end-of-life care for people with dementia who died on a green care farm.DesignAn explorative, descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenological approach.Setting and participantsA purposive sample of 15 participants – seven healthcare workers and eight family caregivers - from three green care farms in the Netherlands.MethodsSemi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted to explore participants’ experiences with end-of-life care, including topics such as advance care planning, the influence of COVID-19, and bereavement support. Transcripts were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s approach.ResultsFour main themes were extracted: 1) tailored care and attention for the individual resident, 2) reciprocal care relationships between healthcare workers and family caregivers, 3) compassionate care and support in the dying phase, and 4) the influence of COVID-19 on end-of-life care.Conclusion and implicationsThe overall experience of the healthcare workers and family caregivers was that end-of-life care offered on green care farms is person-centred and compassionate and is tailored to the person with dementia and their family caregivers. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers and family caregivers were satisfied with end-of-life care on the green care farms. Green care farms may offer a valuable alternative care setting for people with dementia in their last phase of life. More research is needed to investigate green care farms’benefits compared to other, more traditional settings.

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

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.

Drivers of social innovation in disability services for inclusion: a focus on social farming in nonprofit organizations

PurposeThis study investigates the drivers of social innovation in disability services with specific reference to the context of nonprofit organizations of social farming. In addition, it highlights the role of stakeholder networks in enhancing the social innovation process and the characteristics of stakeholders and networks driving and supporting social innovation.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a qualitative methodology, research was conducted through a case study survey with interviews to 13 nonprofit organizations of social farming for people with disability located in the northeast of Italy.FindingsInsights gained from the interviews revealed that individual, organizational and contextual factors drive social innovation in disability nonprofits. In addition, networks play a key role in enhancing the three drivers of social innovation through the social innovation journey, from opportunity recognition to implementation of the innovation, to its consolidation phases. Characteristics of the networks and the stakeholders involved are also outlined.Practical implicationsPractical implications for social entrepreneurs include the need to establish cross-sectoral partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including private companies.Social implicationsImplications for policy makers stress the need for ongoing support for nonprofit disability organizations. Social implications are not limited to the inclusion of socially weaker groups; rather, the entire community benefits from the social innovation process.Originality/valueSocial farming represents a valuable solution to meet the needs of disadvantaged people. While much research has investigated the topic of social innovation in social entrepreneurship, only a few studies have addressed social innovation in the context of disability nonprofits involved in social farming.

The Development of Sustainable Social Farming in Italy: A Case Studies Analysis

Social Farming (SF) is a rising practice that offers various typologies of initiatives involving different actors. Peculiarities consist of the types of networks organized at the territorial level and in the innovation processes they implement. In this study, through a cross-case analysis, we take into account six Italian social farms as case studies, interviewing them to understand the activities provided and their organization with the aim of highlighting both the strengths and the criticalities that may limit possible further development of Social Farming in Italy. The results of the analysis pointed out the specificities of the services offered by the social farms and the points of view of the farmers in the sector. Reflecting on these cases in light of the innovation system theory, it was possible to understand both the innovation system in which they developed and the enabling and the limiting aspects for Social Farming initiatives, as well as to codify useful lessons regarding the future organization of sustainable Social Farming services.

DEVELOPMENT OF SMART METERED-DOSE INHALERS FOR SELF MEDICATION PURPOSES (DRUG-DEVICE-SOFTWARE)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of internet-enabled accessory containing integrated sensors and actuators for external communication. The numeral of devices attached to the Internet is rising at a fast rate because of their extensive uses in several fields, like health care farming, sports, and patient safety. The IoT is a concept that considers the persistent presence of wireless, cable, interactive, communicable and collaborative things and objects and that allows new services to achieve common goals, such as diagnostic of symptoms of disease, treatment, a patient cure. The internet offers various healthcare applications from remote monitoring to intelligent sensors and the integration of medical devices. Healthcare IoT can also increase patient involvement and happiness by allowing patients to spend more time with their physicians. A promising technology is now made of IoT-enabled wearable sensors that allow continuous wireless monitoring of critical physiological variables. The focus here was on developing a combination product that was the development of smart metered-dose inhalers, one of the most visible areas of digital pharmaceutical involvement by studying related work. This digital technology was developed in order to improve lung diseases like asthma and COPD and to improve the efficiency of the prescribed media. These monitoring devices connect themselves to the inhaler of your user and should ideally be able to monitor compliance, record the accuracy of every dose, retain data, and not allow access to data to download to the computer for dosing regimen by doctors.

FUNCTIONING OF CARE FARMS IN POLAND ON THE EXAMPLE OF A SELECTED CASE STUDY

The aim of the article is to present the most important issues and key information regarding the concept of foster farms in shaping local development. The article uses the method of analysis of secondary materials, including the literature on the subject – Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Theoretical and practical conditions, methods and hitherto effects of implementing the concept of care farms were presented. An example of a caring farm with regard to the services provided was presented. The role and significance of this type of services are presented, which are undoubtedly an attractive product (service) that can be used by seniors. The establishment of foster farms in rural Poland is an innovative idea that is implemented in the context of social agriculture. In the future, social farming activities (social farming) can contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas. This will enable an increasingly sustainable development of rural areas by reducing poverty and increasing farm incomes. Such activities can stabilize social and economic life in rural areas.

Social Work in Social Farming in the Concept of Empowerment

Abstract This article aims to present social farming from the perspective of social work; it, therefore, explores the added value of agriculture. More specifically, it adapts the concept of empowerment to the conditions of working with participants with disabilities on social farms. In general, the concept of empowerment is described as the acquisition and use of skills to meet one's own needs and gain control over one's own life. Further, the empowerment of groups and communities is understood as gaining rights and straightening the system. It is a systematic method of work used with people with health or social disadvantage, fragile groups and communities. Using participant observation protocols from the stays on different social farms gathered within the project led in four European countries, the form, benefits, and limits of the concept of empowerment are investigated in this alternative agricultural environment. The paper summarises that the process of empowerment on social farms takes several forms at the individual level. Still, when it comes to the acquisition of power by a group or community in conjunction with participation, the use of the concept is limited.