Small-scale apple production in South Tyrol, Italy, illustrates a dynamic agriculture innovation process geared towards integrating small-scale apple producers in a highly productive and profitable system. The presentation provided an overview of the FAO paper on small-scale apple producing family farms in South Tyrol, developed and presented as a case study for the EU funded project: Support of Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture - SOLINSA. Presented at the INTERPOMA 2014, Bolzano - Italy, 20-22 November 2014. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

1. APPLE-PRODUCING
FAMILY FARMS IN SOUTH
TYROL: AN AGRICULTURE
INNOVATION CASE STUDY
MAY HANI,
POLICY OFFICER, FAO

2. Outline
• Background – South Tyrol and the International Year of Family
Farming
• Apple producing Family Farms in South Tyrol – a Learning and
Innovation Network
• Characteristics and of South Tyrol LINSA
• Timeline and mechanism
• Conclusion

3. 2014 – the International Year of Family Farming
Family Farming is the predominant form of agriculture
• Over 500 million Family Farms – 90% of farm holdings
• At least 56% of agricultural production and 75% farming
land
• Produce 80% of food consumed in our daily meals
FF support sustainable development
• boost local economy and generate employment
FF are part of the solution for a world free of hunger and
poverty
• Policies and processes that support family farming are
key

4. Apple Producing Family Farms in South Tyrol
A Learning and Innovation Network for Sustainable Agriculture – LINSA
FAO study a case for EU funded project – 2013
“Support of Learning and Innovation Networks
for Sustainable Agriculture – SOLINSA”

5. What is interesting
• The cooperative culture, linkages and
partnerships
• The diversity of the services, multiple
actors, their roles and collaboration
• Collective efforts boosted local
economy and rural sector
The study
• Characteristics of the local innovation process
• Evolution of the system
• Mechanisms of its development
• Opportunity for learning about the dynamics of
agricultural innovation in family farming

6. Apple Production in South Tyrol
• Total of 19 000 ha, average landholding 2.5 ha
• Over 8 000 small-scale producers mostly family
farmers
• 50% of Italian, 15% European, and 2% of global apple
market
• Up to 95% are members in cooperatives
• 23 cooperatives, 2 producer organizations, 1
consortium
•Dynamic agriculture innovation process
•Network of producers, cooperatives, associations, AKIS,
public and private actors
•High level of co-operation and complementarity
•Integration of small-scale producers in highly productive
and profitable system

7. Key Actors
• Producers: 8 000 apple family farms
• Cooperatives: 23 local cooperatives
• Producer’s Organizations: (Vi.P and VOG)
marketing and invoicing actors
• SudTirol Apple Consortium: information and
services on apple varieties
• Beratungsring: advisory service
• Laimburg Research Centre: agricultural
research
• AGRIOS: quality standards and regulation
• Agricultural Colleges and further eduction
• Fiera Bolzano: trade and knowledge fairs
• Farmers’ Union: legal and economic support
and representation
• Public sector: policy guidance and regulations
• Private firms: equipment, tree nurseries and
specialized services

8. Characteristics of the LINSA
• Autonomous system deeply rooted in the local
cooperative culture
• Multiple actors - complementary roles within a
pluralistic system
• Central role of producer organizations and
cooperatives
• Public-private partnerships towards long-term rural
development
• Enabling environment – policies, infrastructure, AKIS,
• Dynamic system constantly evolving in response to
markets, consumer demands and new conditions
© Marinaio Mauro

9. Time Line

10. Innovation Impact
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
t/ha
€
cent/kg
Price and production evolution in South Tyrol
Price per kg
Production per ha
Improved practices increased yield by double, thus maintaining the average income despite the
decrease of price

11. Mechanisms of LINSA Development
Informal Mechanisms
Social Learning and
Trust
Historical, social and
cultural
Formal Mechanisms
Policy: Good Enabling
Environment
Infrastructure
Taxes
Funding of AKIS
Targeted Subsidies
Institutional Level
Consortia and
Innovation Platforms
Linkage of Actors
Increasing Importance
of Federeation of
Cooperatives
Beratungsring
advisory services

12. Mechanisms of LINSA Development
Innovation across the
system
Institutional innovation
Practice and technology
innovation
Variety innovation, new
and local varieties
Creation of social capital
Reinforcing Identity –
Mela Alto Adige
Forward looking,
adaptative, responsive to
change
Constant learning
Internal and external
dynamics
Individual and collective
learning
Learning by doing,
emulation, aquisition
Learning from others
and creating knowledge
Bottom up – focused on
needs of members

13. Conclusion
• Soil, water and labour were a finite resource, the path to innovation was to
consider People, Knowledge and Ideas as the infinite assets.
• Innovation happened in various ways where people, groups or organizations
were involved and collaborated together.
• Various types of innovation in policy, organizational, technology and
practices.
• People recognised knowledge as a public value to be shared.
• Constant learning, evolution, and adaptation to changing conditions.
• Valuable learning on supporting innovation in family farming.