The State of Family Farms in the World

Benjamin E. Graeub; Michael Jahi Chappell; Hannah Wittman; Samuel Ledermann; Rachel Bezner Kerr; Barbara Gemmill-Herren

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.05.012

The State of Family Farms in the World

Benjamin E. Graeub, Michael Jahi Chappell, Hannah Wittman, Samuel Ledermann, Rachel Bezner Kerr, Barbara Gemmill-Herren

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Abstract

Summary 2014 was the United Nations’ International Year of Family Farming, yet the importance of family farming for global food security is still surprisingly poorly documented. In a review of agricultural census data, we find that globally family farms constitute over 98% of all farms, and work on 53% of agricultural land. Across distinct contexts, family farming plays a critical role for global food production. We present two examples of policy approaches toward family farmers—Brazil and Malawi—to provide insight into some of the complexities and challenges behind the global numbers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-15
Number of pages	15
Journal	World Development
Volume	87
Early online date	15 Jun 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.05.012
Publication status	Published - Nov 2016
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

family farming
smallholder agriculture
Brazil
Malawi
food and nutrition security
sustainable development

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.05.012Licence: CC BY

PublishedFinal published version, 1.47 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "The State of Family Farms in the World",

abstract = "Summary 2014 was the United Nations{\textquoteright} International Year of Family Farming, yet the importance of family farming for global food security is still surprisingly poorly documented. In a review of agricultural census data, we find that globally family farms constitute over 98% of all farms, and work on 53% of agricultural land. Across distinct contexts, family farming plays a critical role for global food production. We present two examples of policy approaches toward family farmers—Brazil and Malawi—to provide insight into some of the complexities and challenges behind the global numbers.",

keywords = "family farming, smallholder agriculture, Brazil, Malawi, food and nutrition security, sustainable development",

author = "Graeub, {Benjamin E.} and Chappell, {Michael Jahi} and Hannah Wittman and Samuel Ledermann and {Bezner Kerr}, Rachel and Barbara Gemmill-Herren",

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AU - Graeub, Benjamin E.

AU - Chappell, Michael Jahi

AU - Wittman, Hannah

AU - Ledermann, Samuel

AU - Bezner Kerr, Rachel

AU - Gemmill-Herren, Barbara

PY - 2016/11

Y1 - 2016/11

N2 - Summary 2014 was the United Nations’ International Year of Family Farming, yet the importance of family farming for global food security is still surprisingly poorly documented. In a review of agricultural census data, we find that globally family farms constitute over 98% of all farms, and work on 53% of agricultural land. Across distinct contexts, family farming plays a critical role for global food production. We present two examples of policy approaches toward family farmers—Brazil and Malawi—to provide insight into some of the complexities and challenges behind the global numbers.

AB - Summary 2014 was the United Nations’ International Year of Family Farming, yet the importance of family farming for global food security is still surprisingly poorly documented. In a review of agricultural census data, we find that globally family farms constitute over 98% of all farms, and work on 53% of agricultural land. Across distinct contexts, family farming plays a critical role for global food production. We present two examples of policy approaches toward family farmers—Brazil and Malawi—to provide insight into some of the complexities and challenges behind the global numbers.

KW - family farming

KW - smallholder agriculture

KW - Brazil

KW - Malawi

KW - food and nutrition security

KW - sustainable development

U2 - 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.05.012

DO - 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.05.012

M3 - Article

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VL - 87

SP - 1

EP - 15

JO - World Development

JF - World Development

ER -

The State of Family Farms in the World

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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