In this report, the governance of mixed versus non-mixed or less mixed farms and associated value chains in Europe is analysed. The analysis is based on a network analysis made within the project. It was done by using a case-study approach, representing five different case studies across Europe that focus on a diversity of farming systems and associated value chains as well as different types of related innovations or practices. This approach was used in order to analyse the governance of mixed related value chain networks, as opposed to less or not mixed networks.

Value chains' impact 

The results distinguish little difference between the two systems. It appears that value chains exhibit stronger impacts on social resilience, than level of farm mixedness itself. This is in part caused by the lower level of diversification observed on mixed farms in terms of their outlet channels for each type of product sold. In addition, “more mixed” seem to be associated with a more connected network as well as a higher influence of central and specific actors. This implies that farmers supposedly enjoy relationships of greater value though, at the same time, may become highly dependent to those relationships and thus have difficulties to switch to other actors (e.g. to another cooperative to sell the products) in case it would be necessary. In other words, such relationships may be more efficient while bringing less system’s resilience.

These results, however, need to be confirmed by other studies. Such studies should ideally implement controlled and/or rather large trial experiments to ensure a high robustness of the results obtained.

Read the full report here

Learn more about the value chain in mixed farming systems here