Strategic Changes of the Farming System in Italian Rural Areas

This article examines the evolution of Italian farms over the past decade and assesses whether their structural and economic transformations align with the prevailing patterns of agricultural development across different rural areas, as identified by the Italian institutions responsible for implementing rural policies. We conducted a comparative analysis based on repeated cross-sectional data covering the 2014-2020 programming period to evaluate changes in the structure of farms located in territories with different degrees of rurality. Using national microdata from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), we compared a set of farm characteristics observed in 2014 and 2023, which serve as two observational time points capturing strategic investment choices and behavioural adjustments across areas. The results indicate significant and articulated territorial differences in farm strategies and structural characteristics across the Italian rural continuum. Such complexity calls for a particular effort in enhancing a place-based approach to policy implementation, with targeted and selective measures tailored to the specific needs and potentials of rural areas.