Summary
This global assessment examines the deliberate establishment of over 8 million new social groups for sustainable agriculture and land management over the past two decades, analysing how rural social capital restructuring has enhanced agricultural productivity with particular benefits for marginalised populations. The authors argue that neoliberal development had previously undermined traditional local institutions and social structures, and demonstrate that targeted creation of new social groups is reversing this trend. The paper concludes that further expansion of such initiatives would benefit from enhanced national and regional policy support.
UK applicability
The findings on social capital and agricultural productivity are relevant to UK farming policy and practice, particularly regarding support for farmer groups, cooperatives, and community-based land management initiatives. However, the global focus means specific contextual transferability to UK conditions would require examination of how local institutional structures and policy environments differ from those in other regions studied.
Key measures
Number of new social groups established; productivity increases in agricultural and land management systems; equity outcomes for previously excluded populations; policy support mechanisms
Outcomes reported
The study assessed growth in social groups for sustainable agriculture and land management globally over the past 20 years, documenting establishment of more than 8 million new social groups and their effects on agricultural productivity and equity outcomes.
Topic tags
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