The Dimensions of Agricultural Diversification: A Spatial Analysis of Italian Municipalities†
Corresponding Author
Chiara Mazzocchi
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan
Address correspondence to Chiara Mazzocchi, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy. Tel. (02) 50316473; E-mail: chiara.mazzocchi1@unimi.it
Search for more papers by this authorLuigi Orsi
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan
Search for more papers by this authorGiovanni Ferrazzi
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan
Search for more papers by this authorStefano Corsi
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Chiara Mazzocchi
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan
Address correspondence to Chiara Mazzocchi, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy. Tel. (02) 50316473; E-mail: chiara.mazzocchi1@unimi.it
Search for more papers by this authorLuigi Orsi
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan
Search for more papers by this authorGiovanni Ferrazzi
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan
Search for more papers by this authorStefano Corsi
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Milan
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Diversification in agriculture could ensure the survival of farming by broadening the income base of farms and encouraging agricultural sustainability. The diversification of on-farm activities may depend on socioeconomic and environmental characteristics. Although multifunctionality is a hotly debated topic, few papers have focused on the farm characteristics that influence diversification and none have focused on the influence of the spatial pattern. This paper examines the relationship between farm characteristics and the adoption of a specific type of diversification. An econometric model is presented that uses a spatial autoregressive lag model at the municipal scale. The results demonstrate that the activation of each diversification dimension is influenced by both internal and external factors, encompassing farmers’ characteristics, the farm structure, and territorial features, including regional and spatial patterns. Deepening is mainly influenced by the farmer’s age, education, and the presence of small and labor-intensive farms. The key factors for broadening diversification are the presence of small farms and farms with mixed production (breeding and crop cultivation). Regrounding is most affected by the labor-intensive farms in the area and the farms with mixed production.
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