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The Role of Agency in the Emergence and Development of Social Innovations in Rural Areas. Analysis of Two Cases of Social Farming in Italy and The Netherlands

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  • Cristina Dalla Torre

    (Institute for Regional Development - Eurac Research, Viale Druso, 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Elisa Ravazzoli

    (Institute for Regional Development - Eurac Research, Viale Druso, 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Marijke Dijkshoorn-Dekker

    (Wageningen Economic Research, Prinses Beatrixlaan 582-528, 2595 BM The Hague, The Netherlands)

  • Nico Polman

    (Wageningen Economic Research, Prinses Beatrixlaan 582-528, 2595 BM The Hague, The Netherlands)

  • Mariana Melnykovych

    (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
    European Forest Institute, St. Antoni M. Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Elena Pisani

    (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF) - University of Padova, Via dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy)

  • Francesca Gori

    (Institute for Regional Development - Eurac Research, Viale Druso, 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Riccardo Da Re

    (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF) - University of Padova, Via dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
    ETIFOR, Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, 41, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Kamini Vicentini

    (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF) - University of Padova, Via dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy)

  • Laura Secco

    (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF) - University of Padova, Via dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy)

Abstract

Social innovation is considered a relevant concept to tackle societal challenges and needs in rural areas and to promote smart, inclusive and sustainable growth. The characterising sector of rural areas is agriculture; therefore, the focus of this paper is on social innovation in the field of social farming. Among the many factors leading to the emergence and development of social innovation, agency has been considered relevant in the literature on transformability and transformative social innovation as it is the ability to turn contextual difficulties into opportunities for social innovation and for inclusive growth. This paper proposes an evaluation framework to assess the different dimensions of agency by triangulating quantitative with qualitative data and by using indicators. This paper adopts a case study approach, analysing two cases of social farming in Italy and the Netherlands. The results show that the social innovation idea and the resilience of the agency are among the most relevant dimensions for the emergence and development of social innovations. Finally, this paper discusses the three most relevant factors for agency to lead to social innovation: idea and embeddedness of the agency, transformability of the context through agency´s resilience, and agency as catalyst for empowerment.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Dalla Torre & Elisa Ravazzoli & Marijke Dijkshoorn-Dekker & Nico Polman & Mariana Melnykovych & Elena Pisani & Francesca Gori & Riccardo Da Re & Kamini Vicentini & Laura Secco, 2020. "The Role of Agency in the Emergence and Development of Social Innovations in Rural Areas. Analysis of Two Cases of Social Farming in Italy and The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4440-:d:364816
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Antonio Baselice & Mariarosaria Lombardi & Maurizio Prosperi & Antonio Stasi & Antonio Lopolito, 2021. "Key Drivers of the Engagement of Farmers in Social Innovation for Marginalised Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Carla Barlagne & Mariana Melnykovych & David Miller & Richard J. Hewitt & Laura Secco & Elena Pisani & Maria Nijnik, 2021. "What Are the Impacts of Social Innovation? A Synthetic Review and Case Study of Community Forestry in the Scottish Highlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-25, April.
    3. Tomáš Chovanec & Festus Onyebuchi Eze & Atif Muhammad & Jan Moudrý & Petr Bartoš & Chisenga Emmanuel Mukosha & Okechukwu George Eke, 2024. "Sustainability and Social Farming in the Czech Republic: The Impact of Selected Factors on the Employment of Disadvantaged Persons in Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Villalba Morales, María Luisa & Ruiz Castañeda, Walter & Robledo Velásquez, Jorge, 2023. "Configuration of inclusive innovation systems: Function, agents and capabilities," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    5. Néstor Vercher, 2022. "The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-24, May.
    6. Simo Sarkki & Cristina Dalla Torre & Jasmiini Fransala & Ivana Živojinović & Alice Ludvig & Elena Górriz-Mifsud & Mariana Melnykovych & Patricia R. Sfeir & Labidi Arbia & Mohammed Bengoumi & Houda Cho, 2021. "Reconstructive Social Innovation Cycles in Women-Led Initiatives in Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, January.
    7. Fazari, Erika & Musolino, Dario, 2022. "Social farming in high mountain regions: The case of the Aosta Valley in Italy," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 24(3), December.
    8. Živojinović, Ivana & Rogelja, Todora & Weiss, Gerhard & Ludvig, Alice & Secco, Laura, 2023. "Institutional structures impeding forest-based social innovation in Serbia and Slovenia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    9. Erika Fazari & Dario Musolino, 2022. "Social farming in high mountain regions: The case of the Aosta Valley in Italy," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 24(3), pages 1-33.
    10. Elisa Ravazzoli & Cristina Dalla Torre & Riccardo Da Re & Valentino Marini Govigli & Laura Secco & Elena Górriz-Mifsud & Elena Pisani & Carla Barlagne & Antonio Baselice & Mohammed Bengoumi & Marijke , 2021. "Can Social Innovation Make a Change in European and Mediterranean Marginalized Areas? Social Innovation Impact Assessment in Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, and Rural Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-27, February.
    11. Francesco Basset, 2023. "The Evaluation of Social Farming through Social Return on Investment: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    12. Néstor Vercher, 2022. "Territorial Social Innovation and Alternative Food Networks: The Case of a New Farmers’ Cooperative on the Island of Ibiza (Spain)," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, May.
    13. Morgana Galardi & Lorena Filugelli & Roberta Moruzzo & Francesco Riccioli & Franco Mutinelli & Salomon Espinosa Diaz & Laura Contalbrigo, 2022. "Challenges and Perspectives of Social Farming in North-Eastern Italy: The Farmers’ View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-12, July.

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