EPRS - Small farms

Improving the conditions of small-scale food producers is a global objective. Small farms make up the vast majority of the EU's 10 million farms. They allocate larger shares of their production to food and have a more diversified produce portfolio than larger farms. Small farms also play a key role in the EU's rural world. They help to maintain lively rural and remote areas, help preserve the identity of regional production, and offer employment in regions with fewer job opportunities. Yet, the pace of disappearance of small farms has been quite rapid in recent decades. They suffer most from the challenges facing the agricultural sector, such as market pressures and weather extremes, and they have to invest greater effort to engage in innovation and new technology. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.