This paper analyses the likely impact of climate change on European grasslands in relation to their present agro-climatic conditions. Such an analysis is an essential part of any assessment of climate change impacts on agriculture given that grasslands are of high importance for agriculture in temperate and humid regions of...

The concept of HNV farmland is a novelty for the South Eastern Europe (SEE) countries. But even in the absence of detailed studies it is clear that the generally very extensive character of agriculture in these countries suggests that there are large areas of HNV farmland in a variety of...

After communism Romania launched capitalist reforms in its huge agricultural sector

Food is fundamental to life and the majority of the food that we eat comes from Europe’s rural areas. Food priorities for the European Union (EU) include safeguarding food supplies and providing European citizens with quality, value and a diversity of food which is produced sustainably3 . The Common Agricultural...

At Culberry Nursery in Angmering, West Sussex (4 miles west of Worthing), Martin Jarvis is taking the first steps to set up a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Project.A meeting in May 2011 established the level of interest, as local Angmering residents and members of Transition Town Worthing discussed ideas of...

Les terres agricoles subissent une pression croissante à la suite de l’étalement urbain et résidentiel, du développement du tourisme et de la modification des formes d’usages des espaces ruraux, et ce quel que soit le niveau de développement des pays. C’est dans la perspective d’apporter des connaissances utiles aux décideurs...

The shepherding of livestock on open pastures is an essential marker of pastoralist management. In modern Europe this practice still persists in various truncated forms. In many parts of the world, government policies undervalue or actively discourage pastoralism, especially mobile pastoralism. Europe is an exception to this trend. Backed by...

The current evolution of the sheep and goat sectors in the Mediterranean region, with a constant decrease in economic profitability, a high incertitude on the generational transfer of farms, and the environmental concerns for both the consequences of abandonment of the activity in some areas and the increase of the...

Quality and organic products are a key part of the Common Agricultural Policy and an important Objective of Rural Development Policy. In fact enhancing food quality throughout Europe partly depends on the EU’s rural development policy. support and opportunities for effective implementation depends on actions in each Member State. However,...

This report presents a study of the economic situation of semi-subsistence farm households (SFHs) in new Member States and of their prospects for development under the stimulus of various EU agricultural policy measures. The project was carried out by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (JRC-IPTS), and focuses on agricultural...

Documentary "Rural families today" National Rural Network Family farm in Terracina (LT) - Lazio

Documentary "Rural families today" National Rural Network Family farm in Collesano (PA) - Sicilia

Documentary "Rural families today" National Rural Network Family farm in Grone (BG) - Lombardia

The Western Balkan countries are all in a process of accession to the European Union. Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro have the status of candidate countries. Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 are potential candidate countries, with the prospect of joining the EU when they meet the...

Italy is a country well known for the quality and diversity of its cuisine. Traditional foods and family recipes form an integral part of national culture. Preservation of these food values is important to many Italians (as it is for other Europeans as well) and in recent years the concept...

The paper aims to investigate factors responsible for the resilience2 and long term survival of short, local food supply networks formed in mountain areas characterised by low population density, remote location and underdeveloped infrastructure. A case study of an alternative food network established with participation of local government and umbrella...

The Statistics in Focus are part of a series of country-specific publications on the results of the Farm Structure Survey (FSS) in years 2007, 2005 and 2003. They provide brief but comprehensive insight into the farm structure in Czech Republic. Farm structure in Czech Republic – 2010 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Agricultural_census_in_the_Czech_Republic Farm structure in Czech Republic...

In view of the creation of a free trade area by 2010-2020, it is increasingly important to fuel euroMediterranean partnership and gradually aim at the construction of a high quality agricultural and agrifood system. To this end, the horizons of research should be widened to cover the big issues of...

The Austrian National Rural Network service unit “Netzwerk Land” has invited 1.400 stakeholders in rural development to answer three questions about the future orientation of the rural development policy. Additionally, these questions were posed on the front page of the network’s webpage. The RD monitoring committee held further discussions and...

Agriculture is a strategic sector of the economy and has deep traditions in Bulgaria. In 2009 the gross value added generated by the sector of agriculture was estimated at BGN 1,506 million and farming jobs totaled nearly 90,000, excluding the employment in food industry and other sectors of light industry....