New knowledge networks of small-scale farmers in Europe’s periphery

Lee-Ann Sutherland, Livia Madureira, Violeta Dirimanova, Malgorzata Bogusz, Jozef Kania, Krystyna Vinohradnik, Rachel Sarah Creaney, Dominic Duckett, Timothy Koehnen, Andrea Knierim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this paper we assess the types of knowledge networks utilised by small-scale farmers in four case studies (located in Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom). We focus on knowledge acquired to inform three new activities being undertaken by study participants: agricultural production, subsidy access and regulatory compliance, and farm diversification (specifically agritourism). Findings demonstrate that the new knowledge networks are dominated by different forms of expertise: formal ‘agricultural advisors’ identified in the case studies primarily offer codified managerial knowledge through centralised networks, suggesting that state-funded services for small-scale farmers are largely embedded in traditional, linear models of knowledge transfer. Production and diversification knowledge is exchanged through ‘distributed’ and ‘decentralised’ networks, where a range of actors are involved across varying geographical distances. Findings highlight issues associated with the quality and independence of both ‘free’ and paid advice, as well as the importance of combining tacit and codified knowledge for credibility. In all four cases, we found that small-scale farmers utilise formal advisory services primarily for accessing subsidies (e.g. completing application forms), rather than acquiring production knowledge. The authors argue that by utilising the state funding allocated to advisory services for small-scale farmers primarily to enable these farmers to access subsidies, important opportunities for innovation by both advisors or farmers can be lost.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)428-439
JournalLand Use Policy
Volume63
Early online date20 Apr 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2017

Keywords

  • AKIS
  • Farm advisory services
  • Networks
  • New entrants
  • PRO AKIS

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