Abstract

As farms are consolidated into larger operations and small farms close down for economic reasons, rural areas lose ecological, social and economic functions related to farming. Biodiversity and scenic, open-vista landscapes are lost as fields are left unmanaged. Social and economic benefits such as local job opportunities and meeting places disappear. Four Swedish rural communities were examined to increase our understanding of the functions that a diverse agriculture provides and which of these are lost as farms cease operation and overall rural social capital is depleted. Workshops and interviews with village action groups and with farmers were carried out. Both groups identified key functions from farming that are important to the rural community, such as production of food and fiber, businesses and jobs, human services, local security, ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and biodiversity, and functions pertaining to quality of life. Several ways in which village action groups can support agriculture were identified that current industrial agriculture and even agri-environmental schemes fail to achieve. These include organizing local meeting places, encouraging local processing and consumption and supporting farmers in their work. We conclude that agriculture and village action groups match well in community development and that policies supporting this match would be useful.

Keywords

multifunctional agriculture; ecosystem services; village action groups; rural development; Sweden

Published in

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
2011, Volume: 26, number: 2, pages: 137-148
Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

SLU Authors

• Milestad, Rebecka

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Björklund, Johanna

  • Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all


UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Economics and Business
Social Sciences


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170510000529

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/60668