Supporting the role of small farms in the European regional food systems: What role for the science-policy interface?

• Published in: Global food security 2021-03, Vol.28, p.100433, Article 100433
• Main Authors: Šūmane, Sandra, Ortiz Miranda, Dionisio, Pinto-Correia, Teresa, Czekaj, Marta, Duckett, Dominic, Galli, Francesca, Grivins, Mikelis, Noble, Christina, Tisenkopfs, Talis, Toma, Irina, Tsiligiridis, Theodore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boundary networks; Food security; Food system governance; Science-policy interface; Small farms
• ISSN: 2211-9124; 2211-9124
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100433

Small farms dominate the European agricultural landscape, but they are much less represented in agricultural decision-making structures than larger farms. The weak political representation of small farms diminishes the degree to which their needs are addressed in public agricultural policies and support measures. This underrepresentation has been constraining small farms' contribution to food and nutrition security and sustainability. This paper explores the science – policy interface as boundary networks between researchers and policy-makers, to generate policies that are better-informed and better tailored to small farms' situations. It gathers researchers' experiences, from the Horizon 2020 project SALSA, through a range of project-generated activities and knowledge, of their engagement in the policy process. From the case studies analyzed, three types of SPI emerge: expert advice, networking platform and collaborative governance. Cooperation between researchers and policy-makers, that is often embedded in broader stakeholders’ networks, generate three kinds of contributions: better-informed policy process; increased social capital and empowerment of participants; and improved participant knowledge and skills. •Small farms are underrepresented in the policy process and they benefit less than larger farms from public support.•Researchers can contribute to more inclusive policy processes with evidence on small farms' situation, needs and potential.•Science-policy interfaces operate as boundary networks for expert advice, networking, or collaborative governance.•Small farms can be addressed at different decision-making levels and policy domains and with a range of existing policy tools.•Besides policy outcomes, science-policy interfaces bring about increased social capital, empowerment, knowledge and skills.