GENERAL OVERVIEW OF SOCIAL FARMING Provided by IAL FVG

Structure of the unit Definition History Importance Challenges Areas of work European stakeholders and actors

Defining the concept and its roots

What is social farming? Lack of a uniform definition Diverse interpretation of the concept of social farming - from the more general understanding of “practice of offering activity on family farms as a form of social support service1” to “supporting vulnerable groups in generating income through the implementation of economic initiatives in the field of agriculture” (LSIF, 2012). The common features - creating better conditions for people from disadvantaged groups to become independent economic units, as well as increasing their level of social capital. In some countries in Northern Europe the term “Green Care” is more common (Profarm, 2017).

History The development of social farming is different in different countries because of the specificities of the culture and structure of their health, social and educational services. It is believed that the emergence of individual initiatives in social farming can be traced back to the 1960s (Arsia, 2009).

Importance and Challenges

Why social farming is important? Тhe main benefits of social farming are: Creating and maintaining jobs in rural areas and on this basis overcoming the processes of depopulation; Diversification and expansion of social services in rural areas; Higher effectiveness of social assistance, support and care; Benefits for clients: 1) Enhanced self-esteem by plant and animal care; 2) Informal relationships with colleagues and other clients; Additional source of income; Non-financial benefits; Environmental benefits. (Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, 2015)

Why social farming is important? According to FASST (2018) Social Farming has a great unexplored and unexploited potential for social inclusion, employability and rural development. This potential depends on the types of activity supported, but generally it helps people from disadvantaged groups to create relationships outside the community, to find jobs and to generate income. Social farming is very often used as a form of therapy to help people overcome psychological and other problems (e.g. people with former addictions).

Challenges Such potential is undermined by the lack of a coherent regulatory framework and definition at EU and national levels. Very few EU Member States have a regulatory framework in place (FASST, 2018:3).

Types of activities and actors

Areas of work There is a wide variety of activities in the field of social farming (Profarm, 2017; LSIF, 2012): Rehabilitation-Care Training and work integration Income generation initiatives Recreation and quality of life Education Other

European stakeholders and actors The FASST (2018) identifies following stakeholders and actors in social farming activities: The European Economic and Social Committee, Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment; Euro+Med Agri-Social Forum; European Network for Rural Development; AGRI - European Parliament Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development; ELO - European Landowners Organisation; Social Farming National Networks and Social Farming National Forums; International Network Platform and Competence Center for Social Farming (project MAiE); Multifunctional Agriculture in Europe – Social and Organic Impacts on Organic Farms, LLP).

References FASST (2018). IO2 - Capacity Gap Assessment - Final Report. Developed under the project № 2017-1-IT01-KA202-006055 Arsia-Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e l’Innovazione nel settore Agricolo-forestale (2009). Supporting policies for Social Farming in Europe Progressing Multifunctionality in Responsive Rural Areas. SoFar project: supporting EU agricultural policies. Press: Press Service srl, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) ISBN 978-88-8295-107-8 Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic (2015). Social Farming A document prepared in the framework of the Working Committee for Social Farming in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. ISBN 978-80-7434-212-7 https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/facilitating-social-farming-helps-combat-rural-isolation/ Profarm (2017) Social Farming In Europe. Pro.Farm – WP3 – Deliverable 3.1 PROfessional and personal empowerment in social FARMing. Project number 562159-EPP-1-2015-1-IT-EPPKA3-PI-FORWARD Penov, I., Georgiev G., Grigorova D. and Trendafilov V., (2012). An Integrated Model for Supporting Small Business or How to Help Disadvantaged Families to Generate Income From Own Business. Makros Printing House. Plovdiv, Bulgaria. ISBN 978-954-561-288-6 (In Bulgarian: Пенов И., Георгиев Г., Григорова Д. и Трендафилов В.,(2012). Интегриран модел за подкрепа на дребния бизнес или как да помогнем на семействата в неравностойно положение да си осигурят доходи от собствена дейност. Издателство: Макрос. Пловдив, България).