Deep Roots

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Modernization and innovation

There is a need to promote innovation within family farms, taking

into account their diversity, the different natural conditions under

which they operate and their varying degrees of technological

development. There are a number of obstacles to the uptake of

innovation that need to be addressed: lack of access to knowl-

edge, insufficient information flow, weak exchange of research

results and too little responsiveness to the needs of farmers.

The revised CAP is ready to support innovation, whether it

is led by individuals, public sector organizations or enterprises.

A fully fledged EU innovation package is available for the agri-

food sector, comprising the new rural development policy,

the Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative on the Innovation Union,

Horizon 2020,

and the European Innovation Partnership:

Agricultural productivity and sustainability.

This combination

of policy measures aims to encourage researchers, farmers, advi-

sors and other agricultural sector stakeholders to cooperate more

actively. In particular, it is hoped that a more direct and system-

atic exchange between farming and science will accelerate the

speed of technological transfer and innovation.

Case study:

Young farmer, Idálio Ramos Martins, from

Portugal’s Algarve region, keeps a flock of goats and produces

cheese from their milk using traditional production techniques.

Equipped with modern technological solutions for milking and

dairy processing, he now produces high quality goats’ cheese

according to rigorous hygiene and safety standards while main-

taining traditional practices. Thanks to an increase in production

capacity, the family farmer improved profitability and now also

processes milk from other goat breeders of the region.

Provision of environmental services

Traditional, small-scale, low input and High Nature Value

agricultural systems are essential when it comes to making

sustainable use of natural resources in areas with natural

constraints, such as challenging terrain, poor soil quality or

difficult climatic conditions. Such systems are often main-

tained by family farms, but are threatened by declining

profitability and continued rural depopulation.

The ‘Less Favoured Areas’ measure under the rural develop-

ment pillar of the CAP was designed to halt land abandonment

in such areas. It will continue in classified areas with natural

constraints. Furthermore, in all types of territories, agri-

environment measures have also allowed family farmers to

continue their engagement in actions that support the envi-

ronment, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation,

despite more economically efficient alternatives. In addition,

the combination of agri-environmental programmes with the

development of rural tourism and other businesses (such as

local food products) has often helped to maintain highly valu-

able environmental and cultural landscapes.

Case study:

The Bangala family from Brasov County,

Transylvania (Romania), manage their sheep and cattle farm

in accordance with an agreed five-year environmental manage-

ment plan. Around 250 hectares of uplands are also exploited

for the grazing of livestock in the summer. Strict application

of traditional agricultural practices excludes the use of chemi-

cal fertilizers, but reduces the potential agricultural output

of the farm. Furthermore, to protect insects, birds, flowers,

animals and other species during breeding, nesting or pollina-

tion periods, mowing is controlled and managed, again with

the risk of reducing productivity. The annual agri-environ-

ment payment of €3,276 covers the costs of hand moving

and turning of hay, as well as those of labour-intensive shep-

herding carried out with the help of local manpower. The

application of traditional farming practices continues, while

at the same time the family members can focus their attention

Many regional and traditional foods – often produced on family farms

Images: European Commission

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