Institutional support for technological innovations in family farming: evidence from European countries.

Agriculture was the main occupation of human beings. The demand for food and agricultural products is increasing because the world population is growing. Today, agriculture is at a crossroads. It is crucial to reduce food losses and waste, increase the efficiency of the food system, improve food safety and nutrition, and contribute to environmental sustainability. The growing attention to food loss and waste is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, the Zero Hunger Goal (SDG 2) calls for ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. The Sustainable Consumption Goal (SDG 12) calls for the elimination of unsustainable consumption patterns and the reduction of food losses along production and supply chains (including post-harvest losses) by 2030. The expected positive environmental impact of reducing food losses and waste would also impact SDG 6 (sustainable water management), SDG 13 (climate change), SDG 14 (marine resources), SDG 15 (terrestrial ecosystems, forestry, biodiversity) and many other SDGs, among others (United Nations). The agriculture industry faces tremendous challenges, such as significant climate changes, the degradation of natural resources, including water scarcity, soil depletion, and biodiversity loss, and increasing pressure to provide sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food for a growing population. An urgent and radical shift in our food systems is necessary to feed the world and do it sustainably. Innovations in the food industry and agriculture are key to achieving these goals. Family farmers are at the heart of this issue. Family farming plays a fundamental role in an overpopulated world. Family farming is significantly valuable around the world due to its environmentally friendly, multidisciplinary, and multifunctional nature is more than a way of producing food: it produces wealth, respects nature and biodiversity, guarantees the preservation of indigenous breeds and varieties, reinforces traditional production systems, and uses environmentally friendly practices. preserves culture and traditions and guarantees social and territorial cohesion. Family farms dominate in today’s agriculture: from 608 million farms in the world, more than 90% of which are family farms, and they occupy around 70–80% of farmland and produce roughly 80% of the world’s food in value terms (Lowder, Sánchez, Bertinic, 2021). Moreover, the United Nations General Assembly announced 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) to raise the profile of family farming in the agricultural, environmental and social policies on national agendas (United Nations Digital Library). Later, the United Nations proclaimed the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028) in December 2017. It highlights the importance of family farming. Family farmers have proven their capacity to develop new strategies and provide innovative responses to emerging social, environmental, and economic challenges. They simultaneously fulfil environmental, social, and cultural functions and are custodians of biodiversity, preserving the landscape and maintaining community and cultural heritage (Vapnek, Boaz, 2021). Importantly, family farms have the decent knowledge to produce nutritious and culturally appropriate food as part of local traditions. Nothing comes closer to the paradigm of sustainable food production than family farming. When supported with affirmative policies and programs, family farmers have a unique capacity to redress the failure of a world food system.