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This article aims to contribute to the debate about the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), on how to make it more usable, useful and reliable, both for research users and practitioners when studying policy assessment. Ten years ago, the Italian National Rural Network published a highly relevant report about FADN data use for Rural Development policy evaluation, providing a wide range of examples of its application. The report had the merit of providing a comprehensive and systematic overview of FADN uses for evaluation for the first time and not only for impact assessment.From this experience, this paper examines how the different Managing Authorities in Italy have used FADN data for the evaluation of the current 2014-20 Rural Development Programmes: how actually the database has been used in the Annual Implementation Reports, with a focus on indicators for competitiveness assessment. The paper highlights some recommendations, considering the next programming period and the application of the so-called New Delivery Model.

Il volume, frutto della collaborazione AISRe-CREA, ripercorre le riflessioni sviluppate negli ultimi anni sui temi della sostenibilità e dell'innovazione dei sistemi agricoli locali, nelle aree interne del Paese. Nella prima parte si propone un inquadramento sugli scenari attuali di sviluppo e sul contesto di policy per le aree interne. La seconda parte del volume si focalizza sui sistemi locali in Italia e ripercorre alcune esperienze centrate sullo sviluppo agroalimentare dei territori, confluite in alcuni lavori presentati nel corso della XXXIX Conferenza annuale AISRe, di Bolzano nel 2018, che ha ospitato una sessione speciale su questo tema. I contributi proposti si inquadrano, quindi, in una lettura territoriale delle aree interne caratterizzate da una significativa distanza dai principali centri di offerta di servizi essenziali; una disponibilità elevata di importanti risorse ambientali e culturali; dinamiche di abbandono delle superfici agricole e ampi processi di spopolamento. Il volume manifesta una visione in cui le aree interne, rurali e remote, soggette ad un aggravio dei costi per le attività agricole connessi agli svantaggi morfologici ma anche ricche di biodiversità, sono un target ideale verso cui far convergere l'azione delle diverse policy territoriali. In particolare, è necessaria una governance della biodiversità in grado non solo di valorizzare le risorse agricole, ma di innestare meccanismi di crescita rurale rendendo attrattivi i territori dove risiede la biodiversità, tramite azioni specifiche di miglioramento dei servizi essenziali per le persone e di adeguamento delle infrastrutture fondamentali. Si è quindi molto vicini nel "Riportare la natura nella nostra vita" così come indicato dalla Commissione europea per la strategia della biodiversità per il 2030 e che nell'attuale periodo di transizione offre nuove opportunità di sviluppo

Arable farming plays an important role in securing economic development in the rural region of Le Marche (Italy). However, this system could be unsustainable owing to the use of polluting inputs and the negative environmental effects induced by specialization. The objective of this paper is to analyze eco-efficiency of a sample of arable farms operating in the Le Marche region over the period 2011–2014 using the Farm Accountancy Data Network. For this aim, a two-stage analysis has been carried out. Firstly, eco-efficiency and pressure specific eco-efficiency scores are computed using Data Envelopment Analysis. Then, a robust regression analysis is carried out to identify the influence of a selection of economic, social and political factors on eco-efficiency. Results show that most arable farms exhibit a modest level of eco-efficiency and are characterized by specific eco-inefficiency in relation to the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Moreover, they indicate that farms are more eco-efficient if they are led by young farmers and participate to agri-environmental schemes. From these results, useful policy recommendations and conclusions can be drawn.

Innovation is considered as one of the key drivers for a competitive and sustainable agriculture and the European Commission highlights the importance of tailoring innovation support to farmers’ needs, especially in European Rural Development Policy (reg EU 1305/2013). The scientific literature offers a wide panorama of tools and methods for the analysis of innovation in agriculture but the lack of data on the state of innovation in the farms hampers such studies. A possibility to partially overcome this limit is the use of data collected by the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). The aim of this study is to propose a method to deduce farms’ innovation needs, related to the macro objectives of European Rural Development Policy, using the economic and financial results of the Italian FADN survey. A list of farm management indicators has been identified connected with the innovation demand. Then, using FADN accounting data, indicators have been calculated for homogeneous groups of farms in terms of territory, economic size, and productive sector. In this way, critical farm issues related to innovation needs have been highlighted Finally, as an example of application, measures of the Rural Development Programs (RDP) have been proposed for each farm critical issue. This method can facilitate policy makers and Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) organizations in identifying some targeted interventions, thanks to a deep analysis of rural contexts and farm systems. The current FADN does not provide specific information concerning the implementation of innovation by farms; for this purpose, new and suitable variables should be added to the annual survey.

Il Censimento dell’agricoltura del 2010 offre un quadro informativo articolato delle aziende agricole e delle loro molteplici configurazioni organizzative, dimensionali e produttive. Attraverso una semplice metodologia di classificazione tipologica, il lavoro propone una lettura dei risultati censuari distinguendo le aziende dalle imprese, su diversi livelli di crescente orientamento imprenditoriale. L’obiettivo principale e identificare e localizzare a livello comunale diverse tipologie di aziende/imprese. I risultati dell’analisi confermano il legame dei fattori locali con la diffusione e la crescita delle imprese, tuttavia vi sono anche altre evidenze che stimolano una riflessione sul ruolo delle politiche per lo sviluppo agricolo e rurale

Agriculture plays a relevant role in most green economy issues which will be discussed in the next conference on sustainable development at Rio de Janeiro (Rio+20). Food security, water, disaster risks, are the most related issues but the contribution of agriculture will be wider and horizontal. In the European context, policies have implemented many of the priorities of sustainable development, linking them to the characteristics of the territories and with strategic objectives of EU. In particular, around 2000, the concept of rural development was born as the recognition of the role of agriculture not only as a productive sector but also as a growth factor for a balanced and integrated development of rural areas. Farming became again one of the components of the local development of those territories where there has not been an evident development of the industrial or service sector. Concretely, farmers receive a financial support if they demonstrate to perform activities that directly or indirectly benefit the environment and this is a payment for the supply of a public good of collective interest. The message addressed to the farmer is clear: it is not only important that he/she is able to produce but what is even more important is the quality of the product and the sustainability of the process adopted. This is not just a different approach to business, but a cultural change that is difficult to spread especially because of the low presence of young people in agriculture but also because public support cannot ensure an adequate remuneration. The green component of agriculture is encountering difficulties to take off, overwhelmed by the historical structural problems aggravated by the current crisis. This article discusses the main agricultural pressures on the environment and analyses some related economic activities that can be considered as examples of the green component of the rural development.