Organizational innovation in the context of family farms: lean diagnosis

Family farming has been on the agenda worldwide. Portugal is no exception. Act No. 64/2018, published in 2018, establishes the Family Farming Statute. Its preponderance in food and in the sustainability of families and territories has been reinforced by the sustainable development paradigm. However, competitiveness constraints assigned to the production system is often seen as an obstacle. Combining the theoretical frameworks of integrated agriculture and work organizations, we offer a lean sociological perspective on family farms producing lettuce. We concluded that their production system is characterized by a set of innovative practices very close to a lean approach. However, there is room for improvements in a production system that seems to maintain a family-based workforce and traditional know-how.

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Land to the Tiller: The Sustainability of Family Farms

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132011452 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (20) ◽

pp. 11452

Author(s):

Anthony M. Fuller ◽

Siyuan Xu ◽

Lee-Ann Sutherland ◽

Fabiano Escher

Keyword(s):

Historical Review ◽

Active Role ◽

Agrarian Change ◽

Natural Order ◽

Family Farm ◽

Family Farms ◽

Family Farming ◽

Sociological Approach ◽

The Family ◽

Family Based

This paper on family farms is in the form of an historical review complemented by current and future perspectives from North America, China, Brazil and Europe. The literature review demonstrates the multiple discourses, concepts and methodologies which underpin contemporary understandings of the family farm. The authors argue that family-based farming units are ubiquitous in most agricultural systems and take on many different forms and functions, conditioned by the structure of agriculture in different locations and political systems. Our review accepts this diversity and seeks to identify some key elements that inform our understanding of the sustainability of family farming, now and in the future. The term ‘family’ is the differentiating variable and behooves a sociological approach. However, economists can view the family farm as an economic unit, a business and even a firm. Geographers see family farms consigned to the margins of good land areas, and political scientists have seen family farms as a class. What emerges is a semantic enigma. As an imaginary term, ‘family farming’ is useful as a positive, universally valued ideal; as a definable entity on the ground, however, it is difficult to classify and measure for comparative policy and research purposes. This ambiguity is utilized by governments to manage the increasing capitalization of farm units while projecting the image of wholesome production of food. The case studies demonstrate the diversity of ways in which family farming ideologies are being mobilized in contemporary agrarian change processes. The notion of ‘land to the tiller’ is resonant with historic injustices in Scotland and Brazil, where family-based agriculture is understood as the ‘natural’ order of agricultural production and actively supported as an historic ideal. In contrast, in the Chinese context, ‘land to the tiller’ is a political means of increasing capital penetration and economic sustainability. Evidence from China, Brazil and Scotland demonstrates the active role of governments, coupled with symbolic ideologies of farming, which suggest that the longevity (i.e., sustainability) of family farming will continue.

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Young People’s Perceptions about the Difficulties of Entrepreneurship and Developing Rural Properties in Family Agriculture

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12218783 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (21) ◽

pp. 8783

Author(s):

Cristina Keiko Yamaguchi ◽

Stéfano Frizzo Stefenon ◽

Ney Kassiano Ramos ◽

Vanessa Silva dos Santos ◽

Fernanda Forbici ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Work Conditions ◽

Rural Youth ◽

Theoretical Background ◽

Rural Environment ◽

Selling Price ◽

Family Farms ◽

Family Farming ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

People’S Perceptions

This article aims to understand the perceptions of young rural entrepreneurs about the difficulties in investing in family farms in which they work. Ninety-eight people were interviewed at the event “Meeting of Young Entrepreneurs of the Rural Environment of Santa Catarina: the rural youth leading the sustainable development”, held in May 2019. The methodology applied in this paper is qualitative and quantitative, through a bibliographic review and a numerical analysis on work conditions and workers’ profile. A brief theoretical background is presented to facilitate the understanding of the results and their relation to family farming, entrepreneurship and its reality in Brazil. As a result, the economic issue was pointed out with 34% of the cases, as a hinter to undertake in rural properties, followed by the lack and low qualification of the workforce available with 12.6% of the cases and the lower selling price for the producer with 7.6% of the cases.

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Hybrid Conceptual Model for Assessing Quality, Production and Satisfaction (SQual4Agri), in Agricultural Production Units, in Cape Verde

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13010037 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 37

Author(s):

Elsa Simões ◽

Margarida Saraiva ◽

Gottlieb Basch ◽

António Ramos Pires ◽

Álvaro Rosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Management ◽

Conceptual Model ◽

Cape Verde ◽

Family Farming ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Small Family ◽

Satisfaction Evaluation ◽

Family Based ◽

Quality Production ◽

Agricultural Organization

In Cape Verde, small family farming production suffers continuously from limited essential resources such as water and soil for a steady development. This situation is further aggravated by the lack of financial resources. We have developed a hybrid and multidimensional conceptual model for improvement of those small farming units by bringing together concepts of quality management, farmers’ satisfaction evaluation and production capabilities. The model we have built was the result of an inquiry based on Focus Group study with 15 farmers and it was carried out in 2019. We name the model as SQual4Agri and this is a step toward improvement in small family based agricultural organization, namely in productivity, responsibility sharing, communication and quality management.

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THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM: GENESIS, BACKGROUND AND ORIGINS

Economic innovations ◽

10.31520/ei.2019.21.4(73).171-179 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (4(73)) ◽

pp. 171-179

Author(s):

V.Y. FILIPPOV

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Extensive Study ◽

Complete Analysis ◽

Political Rights ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Relevant Today ◽

Creative Self ◽

Development Paradigm ◽

The Impact ◽

Scientific Environment

Topicality. The concept of sustainable development synthesizes anthropocentric and biospherecentric principles and provides for optimal use in the economic and non-economic processes of the natural component, aligning the impact of man on nature and the ability of the latter to bear anthropogenic load, which will provide the ability of future generations to satisfy ecological needs. As people and their needs are at the center of socio-economic development, the notion of "sustainable human development" associated with the process of expanding individual choices in various fields is becoming increasingly relevant today: from guaranteeing economic, social and political rights and freedoms to the possibilities of creative self-realization and improvement. Aim and tasks. Despite the extensive study of sustainable development in the domestic and foreign scientific environment, a detailed study of the genesis of the concepts of "sustainable development" and "sustainability", as well as the components of sustainable development, is required. The purpose of the article is to review, systematize and analyze approaches to sustainable development, and compare them, as well as to formulate a paradigm of sustainability from the first appearance of the prerequisites of this concept to the origins and generalization of the genesis of the concept of sustainable development. Research results. Therefore, the result of the study is the formation of the paradigm of sustainability from the first appearance of the preconditions of this concept to the origins and generalization of the genesis of the concept of sustainable development. Thus, the inclusion of only three components in the concept of sustainable development (society, economy, environment) is common practice, but it is not the only correct component. Conclusion. Given the uncertainty in the domestic scientific environment of the system of sustainable development and the lack of complete analysis of approaches to its implementation, it is necessary to review and systematize these approaches, to compare them. This will allow us to understand sustainable development, not as an abstract phenomenon, but as a truly global paradigm for human survival in the third millennium, the transition to which is a translational process.

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The ‘Lunar Side’ of the Story: Exploring the Sustainability of Curricular Internships in Higher Education

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11215879 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (21) ◽

pp. 5879 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lopes ◽

Silva ◽

Melo ◽

Brito ◽

Paiva Dias ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Monitoring And Evaluation ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Large Bulk ◽

Implementation Stages ◽

Work Integration ◽

Portuguese Higher Education ◽

Positive Outlook ◽

Development Paradigm

Curricular internships are increasingly seen as an effective strategy capable of contributing to the objectives and targets of the sustainable development paradigm, both in its social, economic and institutional dimensions. This positive outlook is ingrained within the large bulk of existing research, which has been focused on the discussion of positive outputs, such as the enhancement of graduates′ competences (employability) and their work integration (employment). An important, albeit relatively unexplored, feature of the sustainable institutional politics of curricular internship management pertains to the assessment of its associated liabilities and tensions. This article seeks to address this challenge, by analyzing two interrelated dimensions. First, it seeks to understand the internship processes ranging from the planning to the implementation stages. Second, it elicits the associated negative aspects (the ‘lunar side’) of internships, allowing for an assessment of the features where there is room for improvement. Empirically, this article draws on in-depth qualitative research. It presents the results of four focus groups, voicing the perceptions of top management structures and students involving first cycle degrees in the areas of Marketing, Management, and Accounting from four public Portuguese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)-three polytechnics and one university. Findings confirm the general positive outlook of internships. Perceived negative perspectives report to both internal problems (such as the lack of institutional support and curricular design) and external problems (e.g., the shortage of suitable internship placements), constituting barriers towards sustainable institutional policies and strategies. Adaptive strategies to overcome specific difficulties are highlighted (e.g., establishment of advisory committees with local businessmen). Finally, recommendations regarding curricular internship management at HEIs are delineated (e.g., investment in monitoring and evaluation strategies of internships).

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The partnership between the Brazilian School Feeding Program and family farming: a way for reducing ultra-processed foods in school meals

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980017002117 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 230-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Carla Rosane Paz Arruda Teo

Keyword(s):

Total Energy ◽

Food Group ◽

Study Data ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Family Farms ◽

Family Farming ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Feeding ◽

Feeding Program ◽

School Feeding Program

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the profile of food acquisition in the National School Feeding Program according to the extent and purpose of food processing in three municipalities of southern Brazil during the implementation period of Law 11.947/2009.DesignDescriptive cross-sectional study. Data for 2008–2010 involved quantities, prices and types of suppliers for food items purchased. In total, 1529 purchases were analysed. The items were classified into the following groups: G1 (unprocessed/minimally processed), G2 (culinary ingredients), G3 (processed), G4 (ultra-processed). Quantities of purchased foods were converted into energy and average prices ($US/4184 kJ (1000 kcal)) were calculated. The proportion of each food group in total purchases was expressed as both a percentage of total energy and a percentage of total expenditure. Data analysis was carried out in Stata version 12.1.SettingThree municipalities in southern Brazil.ResultsRelative contribution to total energy purchased was high for G1 (49·8 %; G2, 23·8 %; G3, 4·5 %; G4, 21·8 %). Among acquisitions from family farming, G1 represented 51·3 % of the total energy purchased; G2, 9·9 %; G3, 19·7 %; G4, 19·0 %. Total cost was as follows: G1, 61·6 %; G2, 3·9 %; G3, 18·5 %; G4, 16·0 %. Prices for food products from family farms were consistently higher. Average price from family farms was 1·3; from conventional suppliers, 0·9.ConclusionsThe implementation of Law 11.947/2009 produced a positive effect on the regional profile of food purchases for the School Feeding Program. However, there is still considerable potential to promote health by strengthening relationships between family farming and school feeding.

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Seasonal Differences in Animal Welfare Assessment of Family Farming Dual-Purpose Cattle Raised under Tropical Conditions

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani8070125 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 125

Author(s):

Adalinda Hernandez ◽

Charlotte Berg ◽

Rebecka Westin ◽

Carlos Galina

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Rainy Season ◽

Dry Season ◽

Family Farms ◽

Family Farming ◽

Dual Purpose ◽

Tropical Conditions ◽

Dual Purpose Cattle ◽

The Tropics ◽

Mexican Tropics

Conditions on farms in the tropics can differ greatly depending on the season of the year. Characteristics such as disease prevalence, climate and availability of resources may not be constant all year around; however an acceptable level of animal welfare must be maintained throughout the year. Since it is neither practical nor economically feasible to perform several assessments per year, the purpose of this study was to define whether there were animal welfare issues at farms that were affected by the season to identify which season would present a greater risk to animal welfare, using a risk-based approach. Forty-five dual-purpose family farms in the Mexican tropics were assessed via the Welfare Quality® protocol. During the rainy season, 2.2% of the farms were classified as excellent, 57.8% as enhanced, 31.1% as acceptable and 8.9% as unclassified. In the dry season, 31.1% were classified as excellent, 68.9% as enhanced and none of the farms were categorized as acceptable or unclassified. Consequently, the season which presented the greatest risk to animal welfare of dual-purpose cattle raised under tropical conditions was the rainy season. However, there were management-related differences observed between the two seasons and the dry season also had some animal welfare threats. The fact that farms scored higher during the dry season is possibly the result of farmer awareness, leading to modification of their systems to provide animals with the necessary inputs to meet their production needs. If these modifications were not fulfilled, then welfare conditions might have been jeopardized.

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The legal regime of the Mekong River: a look back and some proposals for the way ahead

Water Policy ◽

10.2166/wp.2009.060 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 798-821 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Bennett L. Bearden

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Water Resources ◽

River Basin ◽

Lao Pdr ◽

Mekong River ◽

Legal Regime ◽

Mekong River Basin ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Mekong River Commission ◽

Development Paradigm

In 1957, the four lower Mekong River states jointly organized the development of the basin and established a legal regime that has spanned five decades of cooperation. In 1995, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam concluded the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin and formed the Mekong River Commission, which has been lauded as the most progressive of river institutions and a model for the world. At the core of the 1995 Mekong Agreement is the concept of sustainable development. Guided by this sustainable development paradigm, the Lower Mekong River Basin states attempt to balance the maintenance of water quantity with protection of water quality, and agree to cooperate and use the Mekong's water resources in a manner in which the river system's environmental conditions and ecological balance are conserved and maintained. However, development of the Mekong and its tributaries has rendered the efficacy of the Mekong legal regime to support holistic water resources management questionable. More than ten years of experience has shown that there are aspects of the 1995 Mekong Agreement that should be strengthened in order to secure the environmental, economic and social benefits that it promises.

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Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Agroecological Family Farming in the Backlands Territory from Araripe in Pernambuco

Periódico Eletrônico Fórum Ambiental da Alta Paulista ◽

10.17271/1980082717520213061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Jose Washington Gomes Coriolano ◽

Lucia Marisy Souza Ribeiro de Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Social Organization ◽

Technical Assistance ◽

Rural Families ◽

Rural Poverty ◽

World Population ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Family Farming ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

The Social ◽

Governmental Institutions

The present reality of the Pandemic caused by the COVID-19, is characterized by new adaptations in the decrease of the social and economic activities, with the social isolations, in cities and countryside communities, causing a decrease in the commercialization of food by the familiar agriculture, damaging the activities of social organization and rural technical advice in the sustainable development of agricultural activities, by the non-governmental institutions and representative entities of the civil society, in the implementation of public policies assisted to the farmers, having a greater consequence in the social vulnerability and rural poverty. The present article aims to study the effects of the pandemic on family farming in the territory of the backlands from Araripe in the state of Pernambuco, describing the strategies adopted in the social organization of countryside communities, in reducing the social impacts of the pandemic on family farming. Through a bibliographical research, based on academic literature, newspapers and institutional reports, on the activities of rural technical assistance with principles of agro-ecology, developed during the period of incidences of the pandemic. As a result, technological strategies were identified in the remote media, for the activities of rural technical assistance, organization of marketing of food products from family farming, at home, in greengrocers and emporiums of solidary marketing, assisted by non-governmental institutions, in the development of motivational initiatives for rural families, in overcoming social and economic difficulties, during this phase of social isolation and safety protocols to the health of countryside area families and the entire world population.

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Ecologically related transformation of the logistics theory: directions and content

Environmental Economics ◽

10.21511/ee.09(4).2018.04 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 44-49

Author(s):

Inna Koblianska

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Environmental Ethics ◽

Industrial Ecology ◽

Theory Change ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Logistic Management ◽

Negative Environmental Impact ◽

Development Paradigm ◽

Ecoindustrial Parks

In the context of sustainable development, the need to improve the models of functioning and development of society, as well as the scientific knowledge underlying them is urgent. In particular, an ecologically oriented improvement of logistics science is needed to ensure the full use of its tools to resolve the modern socio-ecological and economic problems of resource use. In this regard, it is important to identify the directions and content of the ecologically related transformation of theoretical and methodological foundations of logistics, which is the purpose of this article. The paper outlines the main directions of logistic theory change in the context of the sustainable development paradigm. These changes embrace the improvement of the methodological basis of logistic science on the ground of provisions of ecological economics, environmental ethics, and principles of industrial ecology, etc. As a result, modern logistic management goals and objectives include environmental and social targets, and wider interpretation of material flow allows to manage the waste, emissions, secondary materials, and flaw components. The improvement of a methodical framework of logistic decision-making is associated with the environmentally adjusted calculation and analysis of total costs, proceeding from the assessment of environmental aspects of flow processes through the use of material flows analysis and life cycle assessment tools. Thus, the conceptual provisions of logistics may be used to solve various tasks in the context of sustainable development, in particular: to minimize the negative environmental impact of certain production process, enterprise, network (supply chain), as well as to form the regulatory framework for the promotion of ecoindustrial parks.

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