Actual European conditions for agriculture and rural development

Actual European conditions for agriculture and rural development § Agriculture has lost much of its previous roles in the development of rural areas (production protection). § However it is still considered to be the best way of ensuring a lasting connection between the population and the land. § Multifunctional concept of agriculture (EU) seems to be a legitimizing argument for contributing to the socioeconomic development of rural areas and for responding to “new” consumer concerns.

MULTIFUNCTIONALITY and Outputs of a Multifunctional Agriculture Three elements of Multifunctionality: ü Production ü Territorial ü Social Outputs of a Multifunctional Agriculture commodity outputs (COs) private goods non-commodity outputs (NCOs) private goods public goods

Examples of multifunctional outputs: Commodity outputs § Food and fibre § Transformation of products § Rural tourism § Care activities on farms § Other marketable products Non commodity outputs § Food security and safety § Rural landscape § Rural way of living/traditions § Biological diversity § Soil conservation § Health and other non commodity products (silence)

Sustainable rural development at farm level: moving to multifunctionality Broadening: Deepening: (rural area) (Agro-food supply chain) • agro-tourism • landscape management • short supply chains Farm • high quality production and regional products • diversification • new on-farm activities Regrounding (Mobilisation of resources): • new forms of cost reduction Source: van der Ploeg, 2003 • organic farming • off-farm income

Aim of my research The Main Aim of my Ph. D research will be to analyse the impact of multifunctional agriculture on the rural development in one selected region in Slovakia. Specifically it will be examined the economic and social contribution of farms to the development of country villages. Economic contribution: How Multifunctional Agriculture influence the farm‘s economic level and rural economic development (e. g. income, net profit, costs, prices, share of added value to farmer, nº of goods offered, nº of tourists, etc. )? Social contribution: How Multifunctional Agriculture influence community/rural survival (nº of local groups, rate of migration, nº of inhabitants, on-farm employment, new employment opportunities, etc. )?

The research will take place in the region Spiš

How to determine the socio-economic impact of multifunctional farm? The S-E impact will be determined through On Farm Effects and External Effects, which are illustrated in the Table. Commodity Noncommodity On Farm Effects Higher added value Higher income Higher on-farm employment External Effects Higher quality of goods Higher n. of tourists New employment opportunities Better quality of work Better valorisation of household labour (women, young people) Rural settlement Amenities Improvement of natural and social capital

Hypothesis (examples) The higher the level of farm household general and /or agricultural education, the greater the propensity to Multifunctionality. The “better” use of available local natural, social and cultural resources, the higher level of Multifunctionality. The more effective use of financial support of EU funds and/or national and local subsidies, the higher level of Multifunctionality.

Collection of data and methods of analysis A. a) b) B. a) b) Qualitative analysis Case studies of small groups of selected farmers to examine the process of shifting to Multifunctionality (MF). Dialogues with local experts to gain impression of local effects of changing MF and potential for changing. Quantitative analysis A study of 100 farmers with questionnaire; focus on a) degree of MF, b) household and farm characteristics and c) hypothesis to be tested (e. g. quality of goods, use of local resources, etc. ). Use of secondary local statistics, where useful.

Thank you very much for your attention!