Key Drivers of the Engagement of Farmers in Social Innovation for Marginalised Rural Areas

The European Union promotes social innovation (SI) initiatives for the support of marginalised rural areas through rural and sustainable development policies. These are based on the engagement of local actors and the strengthening of their mutual relationships to boost the fostering of professional collaborations. In this context, the Horizon 2020 Social Innovation in Marginalised Areas (SIMRA) project elaborated a conceptual framework for characterising the engagement in an SI initiative. Accordingly, this paper aims to demonstrate that engagement relies on specific key drivers, such as the existence of unmet social needs and the role of agency. To this end, a two-step Heckman model was applied to an SI initiative case study called Vàzapp’, a rural hub (agency) located in Southern Italy. It promotes relationships among farmers to valorise the marginalised rural areas. The results appear consistent with the theoretical framework, demonstrating that the farmers’ engagement was motivated by the existence of the aforementioned determinants. The implications are relevant for policymakers, consultants, and social innovators who may incorporate these elements in designing specific SI projects in different contexts.

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Upward Transition of Indian Entrepreneurs: from Simple Working to Ethnic Entrepreneurship. A Case Study in an Italian Region

European Countryside ◽

10.2478/euco-2021-0031 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 536-549

Author(s):

Rahmat Alì Mohammed ◽

Marcello De Rosa ◽

Maria Angela Perito

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽

Point Of View ◽

Public And Private ◽

Development Policies ◽

Cultural Mediators ◽

Relevant Role ◽

Local Actors ◽

Professional Transition

Abstract This paper explores the role of entrepreneurial orientation in addressing upward mechanisms of Indian immigrant workers in rural areas. To achieve this purpose, an empirical analysis was carried out to investigate how entrepreneurial orientation may affect mechanisms of professional transition. Precisely, we managed direct interviews among Indian workers (through the support of cultural mediators), local actors (like public and private advisors) and Italian entrepreneurs. Our funding suggests the presence of three Indian workers in Italy (simple workers, intrapreneurs, entrepreneurs), characterised by different entrepreneurial profile acting as engine or barrier to what we have labelled as “upward transition”. Immigrant entrepreneurs play a relevant role in Italy and in our point of view, it is of paramount importance to allow them to access to rural development policies, knowledge, training and education upgrading.

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Testing a Framework to Co-Construct Social Innovation Actions: Insights from Seven Marginalized Rural Areas

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12041441 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 1441 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Valentino Marini Govigli ◽

Sophie Alkhaled ◽

Tor Arnesen ◽

Carla Barlagne ◽

Mari Bjerck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Social Innovation ◽

Early Stage ◽

Horizon 2020 ◽

Individual Level ◽

Feasibility Assessment ◽

Social Innovations ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Local Actors ◽

The Individual

Innovation actions within European Horizon 2020 (H2020) projects aim at testing research results in practice. When supporting social innovations in rural areas, such testing requires the alignment of several rural actors in order to entail behavioral changes beyond the individual level. Recently, social innovation has been recognized as an important tool for rural areas, developing new solutions to respond to wicked problems for improving local living conditions at the grassroots level. In this study, we analyzed the use of an operational framework to support the early governance of social innovation actions. This framework was applied to co-construct seven innovation actions across Europe and the Mediterranean basin applied to forestry, agriculture, and rural development. Our results showed that supporting social innovators and local actors at the early stage of social innovation processes is key for efficiently addressing and tackling challenges and opportunities. Additionally, we showed that the process of defining a social innovation is complex and requires recursive engagement, which might lead to evolution through time, especially in the first phases of the process. Lastly, conducting the feasibility assessment enabled strategic thinking on crucial dimensions for designing a promising social innovation action, such as social networks management, financial sustainability, and know-how. Such findings helped us to draw general lessons for the development and governance of social innovation actions in rural areas, potentially applicable to any rural sector.

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Step by Step for Social Innovation with Neuro-Fuzzy Modelling

European Journal of Economics and Business Studies ◽

10.26417/ejes.v5i1.p13-23 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

Mariann Veresné Somosi ◽

Krisztina Varga ◽

György Kocziszky

Keyword(s):

Social Innovation ◽

Local Level ◽

Innovation Process ◽

Social Needs ◽

Fuzzy Modelling ◽

Catching Up ◽

Neuro Fuzzy ◽

The Social ◽

Local Actors

Innovation as the key element of economic development is a crucial factor in social processes. Technical innovations can be identified as prerequisites and causes of social change and cannot be created without the renewal of society. Technological and economic innovations cannot respond to all social challenges. Natural and material resources are becoming more and more scarce, so it is necessary to use investment assets as efficiently as possible, maximizing social and economic efficiency. It is a major task to address the backwardness of social disparities and to create opportunities for catching up in peripheral regions.The aim of our study is to identify the local level of catching-up opportunities that arise from social innovation efforts, and model values for other disadvantaged areas. The investigated solution is presented as a case study after a structured analysis of the local initiatives of the settlement. In addition to examining the prominent role of local actors and networks, we present the process of social innovation, the framework conditions that determine systemic functioning, as well as the social needs, potentials and barriers that determine social innovation efforts.The study identifies the social, economic and political challenges associated with social needs in peripheral regions, as well as proposals for solutions based on neuro-fuzzy modelling that can be adapted to other disadvantaged areas. Exploring solutions and innovative structures and collaborations provides an opportunity to demonstrate the role of the social innovation process in local-level catching-up initiatives.

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IMPLEMENTASI PERCEPATAN PEMBANGUNAN DESA DALAM MEWUJUDKAN PEMBANGUNAN BERKELANJUTAN BERDASARKAN UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 6 TAHUN 2014 TENTANG DESA

Jurnal Gagasan Hukum ◽

10.31849/jgh.v1i02.7701 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (02) ◽

pp. 216-227

Author(s):

Abustan Abustun

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Public Facilities ◽

State Administration ◽

Development Policies ◽

The Government ◽

Village Government ◽

The Village ◽

And Training

Dalam perjalanan ketatanegaraan Indonesia, sistem pemerintahan desa kembali mulai diseragamkan melalui Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan peran lembaga pemerintahan desa dalam pelaksanaan pembangunan berkelanjutan di pedesaan serta tata kelola kebijakan pembangunan desa melalui pemanfaatan Dana Desa. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian hukum empiris. Hasil penelitian ini menjelaskan bahwa faktor pendukung pelaksanaan tugas Kepala Desa di Kecamatan Trucuk yaitu adanya pengarahan, bimbingan, serta pelatihan bagi Kepala Desa dalam menyusun rancangan peraturan desa untuk mewujudkan percepatan pembangunan desa yang berkelanjutan. Sedangkan faktor yang menghambat pelaksanaan tugas Kepala Desa di Kecamatan Trucuk yaitu rendahnya partisipasi masyarakat dalam menyikapi program kerja yang dijalankan oleh pemerintah desa serta rendahnya kesadaran masyarakat dalam memelihara fasilitas umum yang ada di desa. Pemerintahan desa yang baik adalah sebuah kerangka institusional untuk memperkuat otonomi desa karena secara substantif desentralisasi dan otonomi desa bukan hanya masalah pembagian kewenangan antarlevel pemerintah, melainkan sebagai upaya membawa pemerintah untuk lebih dekat dengan masyarakat. Pemerintah desa yang kuat dan otonom tidak akan bermakna bagi masyarakat tanpa ditopang oleh transparansi, akuntabilitas, responsivitas, dan partisipasi masyarakat. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCELERATION OF VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT IN REALIZING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BASED ON LAW NUMBER 6 YEAR 2014 ABOUT VILLAGE Abstract In the course of the Indonesian state administration, the village government system began to be uniform again through Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages. This research aims to explain the role of village government institutions in the implementation of sustainable development in rural areas and the governance of village development policies through the use of Village Funds. The method used in this research is empirical legal research. The results of this research explain that the supporting factors for the implementation of the duties of the village head in Trucuk Village are direction, guidance, and training for village heads in drafting village regulations to realize the acceleration of sustainable village development. Meanwhile, the factors that hinder the implementation of the duties of the village head in Trucuk Village are the low participation of the community in responding to the work programs run by the village government and the low awareness of the community in maintaining public facilities in the village. Good village governance is an institutional framework to strengthen village autonomy because substantively decentralization and village autonomy are not just a matter of sharing authority between levels of government, but as an effort to bring the government closer to the community. A strong and autonomous village government will not be meaningful to the community without being supported by transparency, accountability, responsiveness and community participation.

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The Role of the Sharing Economy for a Sustainable and Innovative Development of Rural Areas: A Case Study in Sardinia (Italy)

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11113004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3004 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Silvia Battino ◽

Salvatore Lampreu

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Sharing Economy ◽

Innovative Development ◽

The European Union

Depopulation is a problem felt in many regions of the European Union, mainly affecting inland and rural areas. In many cases, these areas are characterized by economic, social, and infrastructural marginalization. Their rehabilitation is desirable in view of a better balance of social and infrastructural management. This said, there are no proven solutions for depopulation that can be applied to all territories in the same way. On the contrary, if we examine progress in the fields of ITC and digitization, we can gather interesting suggestions on how to deal with this issue. This essay intends to analyze these aspects and to examine ways to strengthen, through programs and instruments of the sharing economy, the competitiveness and potential attraction of geographical areas considered marginal and that risk demographic collapse.

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Environmental Practices in Firms Located in Underpopulated Rural Areas in Spain: The Case of the Province of Teruel

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17238993 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 8993

Author(s):

Luisa Esteban-Salvador ◽

Ana Felicitas Gargallo-Castel ◽

Javier Pérez-Sanz

Keyword(s):

Environmental Management ◽

European Union ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Future Research ◽

The European Union ◽

Environmental Practices ◽

Social Challenges ◽

Unique Data ◽

Environmental Decisions

This study aims to develop a better understanding of what drives small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in environmental practices in isolated rural areas. Despite a growing literature on environmental behavior in different contexts, the green activities of SMEs in rural areas remains underexposed. This neglect is remarkable, and deserves attention given the serious depopulation problems they have to face, and the economic and social challenges that lie ahead. Using unique data from 141 SMEs in one of the most sparsely populated regions in the European Union, we study the influence of territorial relations on firms’ environmental conduct. Our results suggest that different territorial factors have some impact on the adoption of environmental practices. We report evidence indicative of the role of these factors in shaping environmental decisions. Finally, we offer suggestions for future research that could further develop our understanding of environmental management decisions in rural and underpopulated areas.

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FARM FAMILIES AND FUTURE OPTIONS – THE ROLE OF THE EXTENSION ADVISORY SERVICE IN SHAPING IRISH AGRICULTURE

Quaestiones Geographicae ◽

10.2478/quageo-2013-0033 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 49-62

Author(s):

John McDonagh ◽

Maura Farrell ◽

Marie Mahon

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

World Trade Organisation ◽

The European Union ◽

Multifunctional Agriculture ◽

Farm Families ◽

Advisory Services ◽

The Common ◽

The Eu

Abstract Agriculture across Europe is very much driven by the reforms initiated by the European Union (EU) and World Trade Organisation negotiations. Reforms have mobilised a shift in agricultural practices from production to a somewhat contested post-production and, more recently, multifunctional agriculture regime. Accompanying such change has been the debate on the future of farming, the role of agriculture within the countryside, and the extent to which the sector will maintain support from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the EU. Central to these discussions, in terms of bringing about beneficial change on farms and in rural areas, is the advice and direction available to farmers. The agricultural extension advisory services are an integral component of this process. This paper explores the position of public extension advisory services in Ireland and determines the extent to which these services are impacting the trajectory of modern agricultural practices within a framework of more traditional views of farmers and farm families.

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Aktywność podmiotów lokalnych w procesie odnowy wsi w województwie małopolskim = Activity of local actors in the process of village renewal in the Małopolskie Voivodeship

Studia Obszarów Wiejskich ◽

10.7163/sow.52.6 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 77-93

Author(s):

Agnieszka Mucha ◽

Agnieszka Świgost ◽

Łukasz Sykała

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

The Other ◽

Social Sector ◽

The European Union ◽

Local Identity ◽

The Social ◽

Local Actors ◽

Development Support ◽

Infrastructure Investments ◽

Different Sources

Village renewal is one of the basic tools for supporting the socio-economic development of rural areas in Poland. This article is an attempt to compare, on the example of the Małopolskie Voivodeship, two different sources of funding projects directly supporting the renewal process – programmes co-financed by the European funds and the Działaj Lokalnie (Act Locally) Programme. In both cases, particular attention was paid to the role and activity of various local entities in the process of village renewal. The analysis of completed projects and their beneficiaries indicates complementarity of the two rural development support instruments. Village renewal projects financed from the European Union budget, implemented mainly by public sector entities, primarily include infrastructure investments. On the other hand, within the Act Locally Programme there are supported soft activities, targeted, among others at building and strengthening local identity, undertaken by entities representing the social sector. Combining both sources of financing and the efforts of various local actors may be a response to searching for comprehensive solutions leading to multidimensional village renewal.

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ROLE OF SPATIAL ACCESSIBILITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERIPHERAL RURAL AREAS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. CASE STUDY: BOTOSANI COUNTY, ROMANIA

14th SGEM GeoConference on ECOLOGY, ECONOMICS, EDUCATION AND LEGISLATION ◽

10.5593/sgem2014/b53/s21.048 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Maria-Simona Cuciureanu

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Spatial Accessibility ◽

The European Union

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DAKWAH UNTUK PEMBERDAYAAN PEREMPUAN DALAM PEMBANGUNAN PERTANIAN DI PERDESAAN

Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah ◽

10.21580/jid.v38.2.3871 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 204

Author(s):

Mar’atus Sholehah

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Wage Rate ◽

Agricultural Development ◽

Skill Development ◽

Innovative Technology ◽

Male And Female ◽

Agricultural Worker ◽

Development Policies ◽

Job Opportunity

This article is aimed at the description of many thoughts and ideas of da’wa about the role and the opportunity of woman who work in agriculture and repositioning the strategy of gender within the rural agricultural development policies. The double role of women is clearly indicating the importance of the double sources of income for a household. Women potentials, either as a housewife or as an individual of agricultural worker is the important factor to determine the success of gender strategy. The empowerment is suggested through applied and innovative technology, protection of working woman, improvement of training and extension activities, enhancement of regulations, facility support, increasing wage rate, and household industry skill development. Job opportunity is suggested to balance between male and female and encourage woman to participate in various development activities. With this, the gender strategy would improve household welfare in rural areas.****Artikel ini ditujukan untuk mendeskripsikan tentang pemikiran dan gagasan dakwah berdasarkan teori tentang peran dan peluang perempuan yang bekerja di bidang pertanian dan reposisi strategi gender dalam kebijakan pembangunan pertanian pedesaan. Peran ganda perempuan jelas menunjukkan pentingnya sumber penghasilan ganda untuk sebuah rumah tangga. Potensi perempuan, baik sebagai ibu rumah tangga atau sebagai individu pekerja pertanian merupakan faktor penting untuk menentukan keberhasilan strategi gender. Pemberdayaan disarankan melalui teknologi terapan dan inovatif, perlindungan perempuan pekerja, peningkatan pelatihan dan kegiatan penyuluhan, peningkatan regulasi, dukungan fasilitas, peningkatan tingkat upah, dan pengembangan keterampilan industri rumah tangga. Kesempatan kerja disarankan untuk menyeimbangkan antara pria dan perempuan dan mendorong perempuan untuk berpartisipasi dalam berbagai kegiatan pengembangan. Dengan ini, strategi dakwah terhadap perempuan akan meningkatkan kesejahteraan rumah tangga di daerah pedesaan.

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