{"id":837,"date":"2019-06-12T08:47:47","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T08:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/horizon.peachpuff-wolverine-566518.hostingersite.com\/?p=837"},"modified":"2019-06-12T08:48:20","modified_gmt":"2019-06-12T08:48:20","slug":"small-farms-produce-more-food-than-statistics-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/837\/small-farms-produce-more-food-than-statistics-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Small farms produce more food than statistics show"},"content":{"rendered":"
Small farms sometimes get overlooked as a feasible solution for feeding a growing population, but researchers say they should be given greater support, with some producing more food than official statistics report.<\/strong><\/div>\n
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While small farms can play an important role in supporting rural economies, many owners struggle to earn a decent living which can lead to a difficult choice \u2013 sell up or try to get more land to become commercially viable. This situation is helping drive up the average size of an EU farm.<\/p>\n

According to Dr Teresa Pinto Correia, an expert in rural landscape management at \u00c9vora University in Portugal, if the true value of small farms was better understood then they could access more governmental and financial support.<\/p>\n

\u2018Small farms are producing much more than what is in the statistics,\u2019 she said. \u2018In some cases the official statistics show (what is) close to the reality, but there are very clear cases showing that the production estimates of small farms are underestimated.\u2019<\/p>\n

These farms are an important way to contribute to the food system, she adds, because they support rural food security as well as shorter transport distances and more seasonable production which can have less negative environmental impacts.<\/p>\n

Dr Correia is leading the\u00a0SALSA<\/a>\u00a0project which found the production gap after analysing 800 small farms across 25 regions in the EU and 100 small farms\u00a0across five regions\u00a0in Africa. Dr Correia says the gap possibly comes from official statistics not accounting for food that is used on the farm to feed family, friends or animals. Food grown on farms often meet between 25% and 40% of that farm\u2019s own requirements.<\/p>\n

The farms in the study were mostly defined as those with less than five hectare operations and ranged from potato farmers in Poland to olive farmers in Greece and some growing a variety of crops in France, Portugal and Norway.<\/p>\n

The team used satellite images to analyse the land and crop patterns of the small farms, and then interviewed farmers to get an overall estimate of the production capacity for a selected number of crops. They cross-checked figures with agricultural experts and finally compared numbers from each farm against official statistics of production from that region.<\/p>\n

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‘There are very clear cases showing that the production estimates of small farms are underestimated.’<\/p>\n

Dr Teresa Pinto Correia, \u00c9vora University, Portugal<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Paper trail<\/strong><\/p>\n

The production gap unearthed by SALSA could mean these small farms are being undervalued. Dr Correia says their unreported food does not create a paper trail and that means they are producing a lot more food than ends up in certain statistics.<\/p>\n

For example, the EU categorises the size of farms on their economic value. They say that small and very small farms make up almost\u00a070% of total farms<\/a>, but account for only 5% of the total crops and livestock sold from them. The underestimation found by SALSA means the small farms they examined would be unfairly represented in these types of statistics and that could cause them to be undervalued by markets, banks and governments.<\/p>\n

In general economic terms, the more produce a farm provides the more value it has to the market, which often means bigger operations can end up getting preferential treatment. Very large farms in the EU already produce\u00a071% of standard agricultural<\/a>\u00a0output, but account for just 6.3% of total farms.<\/p>\n

\u2018Small farms\u2019 potential to place more products in the market or increase production is not considered by official (government) regimes which look more at much larger farms,\u2019 said Dr Correia. \u2018If there was more support for small farms they could have a much bigger role (in food production).\u2019<\/p>\n

Support<\/strong><\/p>\n

Later this year, SALSA will present their findings to the European Commission which is currently planning the direction of agricultural policies from 2020 onwards. Dr Correia hopes the project will help convince decision-makers to see small farms as more of a way to improve food security and the economic resilience of rural communities.<\/p>\n

According to Alan Matthews, Professor Emeritus of European agricultural policy at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, small farms can be productive and profitable when they specialise in quality produce. He is referring to enterprises such as vineyards, orchards or farms that add value to their produce \u2013 for example turning milk into ice cream, or fruits into jams.<\/p>\n

While he acknowledges the important role small farms play in supporting rural households and their communities, he says the strong trend of people leaving agriculture for a better quality of life elsewhere seems to be an inevitable trend.<\/p>\n

\u2018In every country in the world over a long period of time, half a century or more, we observe people moving out of agriculture,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

For that reason, support should help those who want to set up or remain on small farms in the most productive and sustainable way, he says.<\/p>\n

\u2018(Support) should go to small farms not because they are small but where they are better at managing the land (than bigger enterprises),\u2019 said Prof. Matthews.<\/p>\n

And small farms are not necessarily more environmentally friendly, particularly where there is a high concentration of livestock or if they run intensive horticulture or vineyard enterprises. And with\u00a0one third of EU farmers over 65 years<\/a>\u00a0of age, the adoption of more modern sustainable practices and technology can be a challenge, especially if operating a less productive small farm, according to Prof. Matthews.<\/p>\n

\u2018Their level of skills and education is simply not the same as some of these incomers that start small farms and seem to be able to make a great success at it,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

When it comes to food security, these farms play very different roles in different EU countries, says Prof. Matthews. For example, eastern and southern European small farms could play a bigger role in feeding households, he says, than those in the west which are often less diverse but plugged into the international cash crop markets. Any support would therefore need to account for a range of factors.<\/p>\n

SALSA\u2019s findings could lead to better technology and training assistance for small farmers, while policy could help create a more level playing field on the market.<\/p>\n

But the big question, Prof. Matthews says, is how to best support every farmer to be economically and environmentally sustainable, regardless of their size.<\/p>\n

The research in this article was funded by the European Union. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.<\/em><\/p>\n

Originally published on Horizon<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Colzi says it was big risk that paid off. Now 57 years old, he is running a successful business growing wheat, tomatoes, cucumbers\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/market-ga2e6ff028_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/market-ga2e6ff028_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/market-ga2e6ff028_1920.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/market-ga2e6ff028_1920.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/market-ga2e6ff028_1920.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/market-ga2e6ff028_1920.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1260,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1260\/the-robots-weeding-organic-farms-and-patrolling-for-greenhouse-pests\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":1},"title":"The robots weeding organic farms and patrolling for greenhouse pests","author":"Anthony King","date":"April 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Robots that use artificial intelligence to recognise the health of fruit and vegetable crops and when they\u2019re ready to harvest are being trialled to help small, organic and greenhouse farmers with weeding and patrolling for pests. These robots can take on arduous tasks and help farmers save time. By spotting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"People working on small farms often find they have back problems after a few years, say researchers who are developing a robotic farming aide. 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There is a need to revitalise rural areas in Europe and crate opportunities for younger people. Social scientists are scrutinising the problem of rural decline, highlighting success stories and policy actions and tracking paths back to a more prosperous countryside.\u00a0 Farming is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"There's a growing need to attract a new generation of farmers.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/21-photo-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/21-photo-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/21-photo-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/21-photo-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1949,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1949\/to-feed-a-growing-population-farmers-look-to-the-sun\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":3},"title":"To feed a growing population, farmers look to the Sun","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"January 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Power above, crops below. What a bright idea! Researchers are testing the effectiveness of growing crops under solar panels. A mix of aromatic herbs and flowers is being grown at a photovoltaic park on mainland Greece. In Spain, artichoke and broccoli are sharing fields with solar panels. In Belgium, panels\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/17-photo-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/17-photo-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/17-photo-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/17-photo-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/01\/17-photo-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2277,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2277\/european-farms-mix-things-up-to-guard-against-food-supply-shocks\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":4},"title":"European farms mix things up to guard against food-supply shocks","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"January 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Greater diversification could help agriculture withstand climate, economic and geopolitical crises. By\u00a0\u00a0ETHAN BILBY \u2018Items in this section have limited availability due to supplier production issues,\u2019 \u2018Sorry, temporarily out of stock\u2019 and \u2018Sold out\u2019 are all signs that became familiar as recent global upheavals exposed how precarious our food supply is.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1830249536-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1830249536-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1830249536-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1830249536-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1830249536-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1830249536-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1358,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1358\/dairy-waste-is-being-turned-into-bioplastics-and-plant-food\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":5},"title":"Dairy waste is being turned into bioplastics and plant food","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"July 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Sarah Wild Dairies in Europe are major economic drivers in rural areas, but they produce significant waste from\u00a0cleaning and processing.\u00a0Wastewater and milk residue, which are typically disposed of, are now being turned into new products such as phosphate-rich fertiliser and bioplastics. The\u00a0EU produced\u00a0172.2 million tonnes of raw milk in 2018\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dairies generate a substantial amount of organic waste, including wastewater and whey, which are now being used to create products like bioplastics. 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