Roberta Moruzzo’s research while affiliated with University of Pisa and other places

To mitigate the impacts of future shocks and achieve its targets, the Food Summit 2021 advocates for a transition toward more resilient Food systems. Alternative food movements, such as Farmers’ Markets (FM), claim to contribute to this transition by offering a different approach to food consumption (Bilali in Food energy secur 8: e00154, 2019). FM are spaces where producers and consumers interact directly, trading locally grown and fresh products (Chiffoleau in Agric 6:1–18, 2016; Marsden in Sociologia Ruralis 40:424–438, 2000). The European Commission defines these short supply chains as “involving a limited number of economic operators, committed to cooperation, local economic development, and close geographical and social relations between producers, processors and consumers” (Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, 2013). The present study examines the mechanisms by which FM contribute to the resilience of Food systems. Qualitative data were collected from a FM worldwide, a case study involving nine members of the World Farmers’ Market Coalition (WFMC). Results indicate FM resilience stems from their structure and unique position as niche markets. Also, their adaptive capacities and innovation are fostered by flexible governance structures and strong agency yet can be variable in degree depending on the context. As a source of innovation, FM can inspire policies and inform models for broader resilience in Food systems. Supportive policies and additional contextual research are crucial for creating an enabling environment for FM to thrive within the Food systems, and for scaling up successful emerging innovations to the whole Food systems.

Articolo completo in italiano su Politiche Sanitarie https://www.politichesanitarie.it/archivio/4257/articoli/42339/ This paper briefly reports the results of a PhD project aimed at understanding the integration of traditional welfare services with the innovative approaches of social farming and animal assisted interventions. These new approaches supporting traditional welfare are finding their way into the work of some health professionals, particularly those working in Work integration services. The research project had a regional dimension (Veneto Region) and involved several stakeholders: the above-mentioned staff of the Work integration services, some regional officials, staff of farmers’ associations and operators of cooperatives and farms that provide social farming and/or animal assisted interventions services to different categories of users under the care of the National health system. The study highlighted that the use of innovative approaches to traditional care in non-institutional contexts, such as rural areas, is perceived as useful to offer new ways of stimulating the resources of people with frailty and is desired by health professionals. However, many unresolved critical issues emerged to enable their effective and widespread use; to address these issues, a co-creation approach was used with stakeholders to develop a shared action plan appropriate to the area studied.

Purpose In Uganda, smallholder farmers produce about 70% of the food but receive very low prices on the sales channels they use. To improve farmers' livelihoods, other innovative sales channels such as farmers' markets (FMs) have to be explored. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the potential of establishing farmers' markets in Uganda, focusing on Kampala district. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology was used to understand farmers' perceptions and the factors that could influence the success of the farmers' markets. In addition, the potential of FMs has been analyzed through the components of the Localized Agri-Food System (LAFS). Findings The respondents had a positive perception of the farmers' markets, and farmers have an urgent need for other sales channels that could be profitable for them. Factors that could influence the success of the FMs were highlighted, including infrastructure in the marketplace, transportation and taxation by the government. Research limitations/implications The study had a limited sample size of the farmers, and it was carried out in 3 divisions of Kampala district, an urban area; thus, the findings cannot be generalized to fit the other regions of Uganda. Originality/value The LAFS showed that the foundation for establishing FMs is available; however, it has to be strengthened through the coordination of different stakeholders that work with the farmers.

Innovative agri-environmental contracts are increasingly studied in the literature, but their adoption has been relatively slow and geographically scattered. Action-based agri-environmental measures remain the predominant policy mechanism across Europe. A three-round Policy Delphi study was conducted with policy makers, scientific experts, farmers’ representatives, and NGOs from across 15 different European countries, to investigate how and under which circumstances novel contractual solutions could be implemented more widely. The expert panel perceived result-based and collective contractual elements as the most promising. Although considered beneficial from several aspects, value chain contracts were perceived less relevant to the policy environment. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Pillar 2 measures were highlighted by the experts as the key policy area to implement novel contracts by national or regional authorities, but Pillar 1 eco-schemes, being launched in the CAP 2023–2027, were also considered as a potentially suitable framework for testing and implementation. The Delphi panel envisaged innovative contracts should be adopted by governments in iterative steps and not as a complete substitute for current payment schemes, but rather as an additional incentive to them. Such an incremental approach allows contractual innovations to capitalise on existing best practices. But it also implies the risk that innovative contracts could remain marginal and fail to substantially change farmers’ behaviour, resulting in a failure to improve environmental conditions.

https://oa.inapp.org/xmlui/handle/20.500.12916/4003 a cura di Daniela Pavoncello Sabina Polidori. Il presente rapporto raccoglie le riflessioni di studiosi ed esperti nel campo dell’Agricoltura sociale, al fine di dare rilevanza alla ricerca transdisciplinare e multidisciplinare sul tema. Questo lavoro è l’esito di attività di ricerca e di studio condotte dalle curatrici della Struttura Inclusione sociale (Responsabile Anna Grimaldi) e dalla Struttura Economia civile e processi migratori (Responsabile Antonello Scialdone). Questo testo è stato sottoposto con esito favorevole al processo di peer review interna curato dal Comitato tecnico scientifico dell’Inapp.

This pilot study aimed to identify strategies for the development of Social Farming and Animal Assisted Interventions in farms, improving the network with Local Health Units to offer new social and healthcare services in the rural context filling some gaps in the Welfare governance in Veneto Region. Starting from a critical analysis of the National Health Service organization, we used a co-creative methodology based on Grounded Theory with the use of different tools to collect qualitative data (semi-structured interviews, focus group, and Scenario workshop). Our results highlighted the need of education, advisory and mediation between the Social Farming field and Local Health Unit to create network between the stakeholders. We pointed out how new energy and resources could be found in a circular and "One Welfare" vision, where the diversification of services provided by farmers enhanced the territory with both material and social products engaging the traditional healthcare service.