(pdf) Multifunctional Agriculture in EU (Cases)

2.1 The Netherlands

The Netherlands recognized the problem of loss of landscape value due to an increase in agricultural production in the 1970s. In 1975 this resulted in a national policy scheme for the conservation of nature and landscape on farmland, in designated areas, with acknowledged nature and landscape qualities. Income compensation payments were paid to farmers who are willing to conserve nature and landscape on their farms. (Henk Oostindie, 2015). Since then, income pressure has been put on farm households (Ploeg et al, 2000) and urged farmers to look for alternative development and income strategies aside from or outside of the agro-industrial value chain. They developed and engaged themselves in several kinds of promising (new or revitalized) activities serving particular consumers or societal needs and functions: on-farm processing and direct sales, marketing of high-quality products, management of nature and landscape, farm integrated care activities, organic farming, energy production, and so on. In the 1990s these strategies were conceptualised in terms of rural development activities through broadening, deepening and regrounding processes (Knickel & Renting, 2000; Ploeg & Renting, 2000; Ploeg et al., 2002) and sometimes as green services (Dagevos et al., 2004; Henkens & van Raffe, 2002). The concept of Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) appears only for the first time in a study by Dutch Agricultural Research institutes in 1996 (Vereijken et al., 1999a; Vereijken et al., 1999b). Thus, the concept of multifunctionality in the Netherlands was initially primarily used in relation to land-use that enabled a combination of multiple ‘functions’ such as nature, landscape, agriculture, tourism, residential use, etc., in a broader public, political and scientific debate about the pros and cons of spatial segregation versus integration of rural functions (Bloemen et al., 2002; Deelstra, 2001; Gordijn, 2003, Kuhlman et al., 2003; Habiforum, 2001; Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid, 2002).
It can be said that the Dutch apply the standard agricultural policies of Europe as Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) effectively. To double the economic value of agriculture from 2008 to 2012, the Multifunctional Farm Task Force, operated by private and civic groups under the government, was established and operated in Wageningen (WUR), the Netherlands. The task force promoted the market demand (added value), communication in local spaces (communication), entrepreneurship (education), the development of various approaches (network), field access research and development (R&D) and the expansion of women’s social participation.
The Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) programmes implemented in the Netherlands caused a revolutionary shift for Dutch agriculture, which became the most productive and technologically advanced in the world. The Dutch expressed the will to support Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) intensively for the first time and promoted an integrated policy direction. This Multifunctional agriculture (MFA), which has been implemented in earnest since 2007, is divided into six policy categories: care, childcare, direct sales, eco-tourism, recreation and educational farming.
Table 3.1 shows the current status of multifunctional agricultural farms’ economic performance and sales volume from 2007 to 2011. The desire to enjoy the pleasant natural environment of the countryside and children’s playing, experiencing and learning in nature seems to be an important factor.
 
Table 3.1 Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) form and economic performance in the Netherlands

Classification	Number of farms (company)			Revenue (annual, mil. euros)
	2007	2009	2011	2007	2009	2011
Healing farm	756	870	1,050	45	63	80
Care farm	20	64	209	4	14	20
Farmer’s market	2,580	3,000	3,300	89	128	147
Rural tourism	13,700	13,660	14,000	90	79	86
Recreation	2,432	2,240	2,884	92	121	156
Educational farm	500	500	800	1.5	1.7	2.2
Total				322	407	491

Source: Roest et al. (2011).
 
For social activities, the number of healing farms for patients with dementia increased from 756 to 1,050 farms in the period of 2007 to 2011. The number of care farms for children that raise pigs and cows and grow crops also increased by more than 10 times from 20 to 209. Similarly, the income of healing and care farms increased. The revenue of healing farms grew from 45 to 80 million euros, while that of care farms rose from 4 to 20 million euros in the 4 years. It is also worth noting that, as the population influx increased as a result of the activation of rural tourism utilizing the healing and care farms, the farmers’ market was also activated.
The three primary examples of Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) in the Netherlands are presented below.[1]
 
1)   Ac Hooper – Healing farm and social enterprise farm
This healing farm grows vegetables and raises 6,000 chickens on 12 ha of organic farmland, which is 16 times the size of a football field. The customers who visit the farm are mainly alcoholics, people with mental illness, dementia patients and the elderly. A total of 85 people is currently using the facility. Nurses and 20 caretakers have developed and applied a variety of patient-specific healing programmes. The workforce at the farm is dedicated to helping the customers handle all the farm tasks, such as raising chickens and harvesting vegetables. The agricultural products and eggs produced are certified globally and sold around the world or to the 7,000 to 8,000 tourists on average who visit the area every week, including the families and relatives of the healing programme’s patients, at the farmer’s market next to the farm. The annual revenue of the Ac Hooper Farm is 1.2 million euros, half of which is earned in direct sales.
 
2)   Child healing farm
This healing farm, operated by a non-profit organization, is linked to a Dutch therapeutic institution in the Dutch Ecological Reserve, a quarter of the size of Yeouido.[2] Children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other mental illnesses are the main clients of this healing farm. They walk in nature, interact with animals and socialize with their peers, naturally opening their minds to heal mental and emotional wounds. The farm now hosts 200 children and youths.
 
3)   Farm Zonnehoeve – Care farm, experience farm, education farm and direct sales
Farm Zonnehoeve is the oldest bio-dynamic farm located in the Almere reclaimed area in the northeast of the Netherlands. The farm has 14 workers and caregivers. The farmland area covers 50 ha and contains 60 Holstein cattle, wheat, straw, shamrock and sugar beets. The farm operates in the form of mixed and organic farming. The grassland vegetation and the cattle form a sustainable food cycle in which the animals feed on the grass and their stool fertilizes it. In addition to agricultural production, it operates a care farm with social functions, and children can be entrusted to the resident medical and professional caring staff. On the farm, stallions are raised, and horse-riding experiences are also available. On one side of the farm, bread is baked directly from organic wheat produced by young people with drug addiction as part of the mental and physical restoration activities. Educational farms are examples of the deepening and broadening of traditional farming customs, such as educating children on natural and safe agri-foods and holding corporate workshops.
 
2.2 Italy
In Italian agriculture, 99.23% of family farmers are involved in Multifunctional agriculture (MFA). While currently more than 80% of farmers are dependent on production-oriented agriculture in Korea, it can be seen that Italian agriculture is more diversified. Through the Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) strategy, the deepening was most active at 47.45%, and it included agricultural product processing (37.6%) and direct sales (22.8%), which are generally preferred by farmers. The regrounding accounted for 42.5%, which was suggested as a combined activity, and the broadening was 37.2%, the highest attribute was land lease (33.7%).
In summary, in the rural context, many activities, such as agricultural tourism, diversification, nature and landscape management, were broadening, contributing to the generation of added value in Tuscany. The agri-food network shows a ‘deepening’ change, and practices such as organic farming, quality-based production and shortened supply chains have been carried out, with farms sometimes combining production activities based on these three. In the case of organic products, taking advantage of the characteristics of a niche market, a direct trade model has been introduced. Combined and cost-saving activities have been observed in the efforts to reground internal resources (FARP, 2013).
 
Table 3.2 Status of Italian Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) (2006)

	Total	The ratio of farms over the total number of farms (%)	The ratio of farms per category (%)	The number of farms	The ratio of family farms over the total number of farms (%)	The ratio of family farms per category (%)
Broadening	263,528	37.23	100.00	261,558	37.24	100
Rural tourism	12,789	1.81	4.51	12,538	1.79	4.46
Landscape preservation	4,266	0.60	1.50	4,228	0.6	1.5
Biodiversity preservation	1,957	0.28	0.69	1,956	0.28	0.7
Utility rent	23,536	3.33	8.30	23,295	3.32	8.28
Land lease	238,701	33.73	84.18	236,973	33.74	84.25
Regular rental	2,305	0.33	0.81	2,286	0.33	0.81
Deepening	335,233	47.36	100.00	333,249	47.45	100
Direct sales	131,235	22.78	27.97	160,363	22.83	28.01
Proof of origin	71,482	10.11	2.40	70,573	10.05	12.33
Organic farming	29,567	4.18	5.13	29,341	4.18	5.13
Hypoallergenic agriculture	39,556	5.59	6.86	39,182	5.58	6.84
Landscape painting	8,816	1.25	1.53	8,816	1.26	1.54
Farm-processed food	265,765	37.55	46.11	264,170	37.61	46.15
Regrounding				298,542	42.51
Combined activity				298,542	42.51
Total farm	707,776	100.00		702,360	99.23

Source: FARP (2013).
 
A relevant example, Villa Capreracia, a wine farm located in Livorno, offers agricultural tourism activities enabling visitors to experience and sell products mainly produced from wine. The farm improved the quality and direct bottling of the wine that it produces and processes. It promotes added value through direct sales; it has adopted a family labour system that emphasizes women’s roles and has redeveloped human resources by developing new knowledge and expertise and fixed assets, for example by reconstructing facilities and introducing bottling facilities. Such reformation of the farm strengthened its regrounding, deepening and broadening activities. As a result, the local economy was revitalized through the increasing tourism demand and employment opportunities for the local community. Additionally, the regionality of the products was strengthened. These activities were accompanied by government support, such as vocational education and investment assistance (Jung et al., 2014).
 
Table 3.3 Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) of Villa Capreracia

1)  Contents
Broadening	Deepening	Regrounding
Agricultural tourism Linkage between the products and the area	- Improved wine and bottling quality - Farm processing - Direct sales	- Mobilization and use of resources - Reorganized the family labour system (emphasizing women’s role) - Reconstruction of facilities - Introduction of bottling facilities
2)  Effects and Government support
Public good	- Area-related quality increase - Increased tourism demand - Increased employment opportunities - Reinforced women’s role
Internalization of non-products	- Premium and high-quality wine - Increased added value through direct sales - Added value generation through agricultural tourism
Government support	- Job training - Investment support

Note: The farm area is vineyard (11 ha), olives (2 ha) and other fruits (4 ha).
 
Cannas Farm, a ranch located in Tuscany, produces cheese directly from sheep’s milk and sells it directly to consumers, linking its business with agricultural tourism activities and reorganizing human resources and fixed assets. As a result, the local specialities are diversified and the local economy and the community are revitalized through the increased value added. Public support, job training, public relations and investment assistance were provided by the government (Jung et al., 2014).
 
Table 3.4 Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) of Cannas Farm

1)  Contents
Broadening	Deepening	Regrounding
- Agricultural tourism - Introduction of a new occupational pattern in the shepherd community	- High-quality cheese production - Direct sales	- Negotiate with family for independent partial management of the flock - Develop new knowledge and professional skills - Regrounding of family labour - Broadening of processing facilities - Reconstruction of farm buildings
2)  Effects and Government support
- Public goods	- Diversification of local resources - Maintenance of local value added - Linkage between the quality and the local image - Improving the reputation of pastoral activities and communities
- Internalization of non-products	- Premium price for direct-sales products - Income generation from agricultural tourism
- Government support	- Job training - Promotion - Investment support

Source: Jung et al. (2014).     
 
Florida Farm, an organic farm located in Tuscany, adopted the ecological farming method by newly organizing the farm landscape and converting it to organic farming linked with agricultural tourism activities. Its human resources and fixed assets were reorganized for this purpose. As a result, the rural landscape was improved, high-quality local products were produced and new regional knowledge was created. For this, the EU’s fallow subsidies and organic/landscape management incentives provided support (Jung et al., 2014).
 
Table 3.5 Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) of Florida Farm

1)  Contents
Broadening	Deepening	Regrounding
- Agricultural tourism - Introduction of a new occupational pattern in the shepherd community	- Conversion to organic farming	- Adaptation of ecological farming - Farm landscape regrounding - Development of new knowledge and professional skills - Regrounding of family labour - Reconstruction of farm buildings
2)  Effects and Government support
- Public goods	- Improvement of the landscape - Creation of new regional knowledge - Production of high-quality products
- Internalization of non-products	- Premium price of organic products - Agricultural tourism income
- Government support	- The EU fallow support - Organic farming and landscape management incentives

Source: Jung et al. (2014).     
 
Lastly, Tardeli farm, a ranch located in Tuscany, rebuilt abandoned pastures, which used to be owned by the local municipality, to improve the landscape and animal welfare in conjunction with the provision of agricultural tourism activities for consumers. To this end, human resources
 
Table 3.6 Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) of Tardeli Farm

1)  Contents
Broadening	Deepening	Regrounding
- Agricultural tourism - Local government land lease	- Direct sales to small businesses	- Conversion of some livestock to beef production - Farm strategy changes - Development of new knowledge and professional skills - Regrounding of family labour - Reconstruction of farm buildings
2)  Effects and Government support
- Public goods	- Restoration of abandoned grassland - Landscape improvement through grazing - Promotion of animal welfare - Creation of new regional knowledge
- Internalization of non-products	- Agricultural tourism income
- Government support	- LEADER programme of the EU

Source: Jung et al. (2014).     
 
and fixed assets were reorganized, and, as a result, the agricultural tourism income, landscape and animal welfare were improved. These activities received public support as part of the EU’s LEADER programme (Jung et al., 2014).
Through this approach, various commercial agricultural products and services are produced, along with public goods. Typical examples include increased employment and tourism demand in the local economy, an improved regional landscape and environment, an expanded role of women in the community through their strengthened position and the creation of local knowledge. In addition, the internalization factors of yet-to-be commercialized non-products that create newly added value are premiumization through organic and high-quality production, an increase in the ratio of farmers’ income through direct sales and the generation of value added through agricultural tourism.
Lastly, the public support for such multifunctional agricultural activities of farmers includes vocational education, investment support, public relations marketing, environmental direct payment and the EU’s rural development policy.

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[1] 2012 CNI and EU Multifunctional agriculture (MFA) field trip interview documents (interviewer: Hyunhee Jung).

[2] Part of Seoul, Korea, which is about 605.28 km2.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source : Jung, H.H. 2022, A Valuation Study on Multifunctionality of Agriculture and Multifunctional Agriculture in South Korea: Beyond 6th Industrialization, Kyoto University Doctoral dissertation.
 

Reference link https://multifunctionality.tistory.com/8
 
 

Multifunctional agriculture in Netherland(case study).pdf

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