Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Most important for the success of the initiative (and the most innovative aspect) is the
creation of new linkages between (regional) shareholders who invest in organic farms and
other businesses in the value chain within this region, thus providing investment capital for
start-ups and supporting new entrants and young farmers as well as other businesses. This
new link between the agri-food sector and financial markets is a key economic contribution
to the sustainability of agriculture. With specific regard to collaboration, the initiative
strengthens the regional organic agriculture value chain by supporting different forms of
collaboration between farmers and business partners (including knowledge transfer
mechanisms) that alter the structure of regional value-added chains towards increased
integration. Beyond this, the initiative also contributes to sustainability by introducing the
principle that supported businesses are not only valued by their individual economic
performance but also by social and environmental criteria which contribute to regional
sustainability. The benefits generated by the Regionalwert AG, by providing transparent
investment options for citizens who support regional agricultural sustainability, should not
only be regarded as (regional) economic returns (to shareholders), but also as social and
environmental gains which benefit not only shareholders but the wider regional population.
The incumbent agri-food regimes discussed in this chapter all face farm succession
issues to varying degrees. In all three cases, the contribution to social sustainability made
by the initiatives has so far been either limited or contradictory (as exemplified with regard
to labour supplied through machinery rings). This is the case even though the initiatives
may potentially facilitate the establishment of young farmers and new entrants, as in the
case of CRIE Montado and machinery rings; or if young farmers and new entrants are
particularly targeted by the initiative, as in the case of Regionalwert AG.
The initiatives discussed here have highlighted several aspects which influence the
situation of young farmers and new entrants at the regime level: (i) the size of farms (large
in the case of CRIE Montado and increasing in size in Regionalwert AG) limiting the
options for expansion or acquisition by new entrants; (ii) conventional capital markets
which are not easily accessible for both groups; (iii) labour intensity which prevents young
farmers from becoming involved in associations; (iv) the background and expectations of
young farmers' partners and families, which may not prepare them for rural living; (v) lack
of advanced training offered for young farmers or for new entrants with diverse educational
and professional backgrounds; and (vi) the type of farming systems pursued by young
farmers and new entrants. Despite general concern with farm succession and with inclusion
of young farmers and new entrants, none of the three studies found policy measures in
place effectively supporting these groups. Although these initiatives were open to young
farmers and new entrants to varying degrees, the two groups did not play an explicit or
particularly important role in the alignment of processes or regarding the initial innovations
proposed in any of them.
Conclusion
It has been pointed out that collaboration is a central form of human agency and thus builds
the foundation of the development of initiatives. One of the aims of this chapter has been to
identify how innovative collaborations have influenced processes of transition towards
regional sustainability. The socio-technical innovations discussed above include: a multi-
level collaborative model working towards increased multifunctionality in the case of CRIE
 
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