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Agriculture
Special Issues
Sustainability and Resilience of Smallholder and Family Farms
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Sustainability and Resilience of Smallholder and Family Farms

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2026 | Viewed by 1171

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Liontakis Angelos

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DEMETER, P.C. 11855 , Athens, Ilisia, Greece
Interests: agricultural economics; regional growth; fisheries economics; environmental economics; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alexandra Sintori

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Kourtidou 56-58, GR-111 45 Athens, Greece
Interests: management of agricultural enterprises; farmers’ objectives and goals; production cost of agricultural commodities; greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural production systems
Prof. Dr. Tsiboukas Konstanitinos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: biohydrogenation; milk fatty acids; meat quality; technical efficiency; stochastic frontier model; metafrontier

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite their crucial role in food security, rural employment, and biodiversity conservation, smallholder and family-run farms face increasing pressures from climate change, market volatility, resource degradation, and socio-demographic shifts. Given the broader economic and social significance of these farms, strengthening their sustainability and resilience is an urgent global priority, recognized not only by development agencies and governments, but also by the farming communities themselves and society at large.

This Special Issue focuses on the economics of smallholder and family-run production systems aiming to highlight their societal relevance and socioeconomic contribution to rural areas. The aim is to explore innovative practices, institutional frameworks, and policy mechanisms that support the long-term viability and adaptive capacity of these systems across diverse agricultural environments. Particular attention is given to family farming, which remains central to rural livelihoods, food security, and the preservation of cultural identity across many regions.

We encourage interdisciplinary, evidence-based research that explores the operation of these enterprises, their role in environmental stewardship, and their resilience in the face of evolving challenges. We welcome submission of original research articles or comprehensive reviews with a strong socioeconomic perspective that addresses, but is not limited to, the following themes:

  • Agroecological practices and sustainable intensification;
  • Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies;
  • Economic and environmental resilience indicators;
  • Rural innovation systems and knowledge transfer;
  • Women’s entrepreneurship and gender roles in farm production systems;
  • Intergenerational succession and generational renewal;
  • Digitalization and smart tools for small-scale producers;
  • Policy analysis, governance, and impact assessment;
  • Land tenure and property rights;
  • Market access and value chain integration;
  • Social capital, networks, and local institutions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Liontakis Angelos
Dr. Alexandra Sintori
Prof. Dr. Tsiboukas Konstanitinos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agricultural economics
  • Smallholder farms
  • family farming systems
  • sustainability
  • resilience
  • agroecology
  • innovation
  • rural policy
  • climate adaptation
  • governance
  • local development

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

35 pages, 8272 KB  
Article
Ecuadorian Littoral Musaceae Producers’ Typification Based on Their Production Systems, Agronomic Management, Biosecurity Measures, and Risk Level Against Foc TR4
by Edwin Borja, Miguel Guara-Requena, Miguel Hoyos, Pedro Terrero, Paola Rodulfo, Liseth Carvajal, Willian Camacho, Rafaela Mayorga, Carlos Molina and Marlon Caicedo
Agriculture 2025, 15(21), 2208; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15212208 - 24 Oct 2025
Viewed by 520
Abstract
Musaceae represent one of the main crops of economic and food importance worldwide. In Ecuador, the production and export of bananas, plantains, and abaca are fundamental pillars of the national economy. However, the presence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 [...] Read more.
Musaceae represent one of the main crops of economic and food importance worldwide. In Ecuador, the production and export of bananas, plantains, and abaca are fundamental pillars of the national economy. However, the presence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) in neighbouring countries increases the risk to production systems. In this study, information was collected through simple random probability sampling, using a semi-structured survey that included sociodemographic information, crop characteristics, phytosanitary problems, agronomic management practices, and biosecurity measures. To differentiate the profile of producers, a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was performed, followed by a hierarchical cluster analysis to establish their types. Additionally, a vulnerability index—Iv (low, medium, high, and critical—is proposed, considering variables such as geographic location, cultivar diversity, and producer management. Among the producers surveyed, 83.3% were men and 16.7% were women; 64% identified as Mestizo, 31% as Montubio, and 1.7% as Afro-Ecuadorian. At the time of the interview, only 38.5% used some biosecurity measures on their farms. Multivariate analyses identified six groups of producers with distinct characteristics, including ethnicity, location, crop type, phytosanitary issues, and adoption of biosecurity measures. Iv ranged from −0.60 to 3.20, with an average of 0.59. Producer groups 1 to 3 presented low to medium vulnerability, while groups 4 to 6 exhibited critical levels. These results demonstrate the diversity of production systems and profiles of Musaceae producers in Ecuador, as well as the need to strengthen biosecurity measures and phytosanitary management to reduce vulnerability to threats such as Foc TR4. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resilience of Smallholder and Family Farms)
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22 pages, 300 KB  
Article
Human Sustainability Capital in Agrotourism: An ESG-Integrated and Emotional Labor Approach with Case Studies from Maramureș and Bucovina, Romania
by Ramona Vasilica Bacter, Alina Emilia Maria Gherdan, Tiberiu Iancu, Ramona Ciolac, Monica Angelica Dodu, Anca Chereji, Anca Monica Brata, Aurelia Anamaria Morna, Alexandra Ungureanu and Florin Gheorghe Lup
Agriculture 2025, 15(20), 2130; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15202130 - 13 Oct 2025
Viewed by 403
Abstract
Agritourism is increasingly recognized as a driver of sustainable rural development, yet research has often focused on ecological and economic outcomes while neglecting the human capital that sustains service quality. This study introduces the concept of human sustainability capital and links it with [...] Read more.
Agritourism is increasingly recognized as a driver of sustainable rural development, yet research has often focused on ecological and economic outcomes while neglecting the human capital that sustains service quality. This study introduces the concept of human sustainability capital and links it with the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) framework and emotional labor theory, using case studies from Maramureș and Bucovina, Romania. Data were collected in summer 2025 through two surveys: one of 120 tourists assessing satisfaction, challenges, and improvement needs, and one of 45 agritourism hosts and employees examining emotional labor, job satisfaction, and ESG-related practices. Tourists reported high satisfaction with hospitality, food, landscapes, and cultural authenticity but noted shortcomings in infrastructure, activity variety, and crowding during peak seasons. Hosts and employees showed strong motivation and cultural pride, with genuine engagement more frequent than surface acting, yet many reported fatigue, low pay, and limited access to training. Social and cultural benefits were evident, environmental practices were modest, and governance emerged as the weakest pillar. Strengthening governance through professional development, fair labor conditions, and infrastructural support is crucial to maintain authenticity, protect cultural heritage, and ensure the long-term resilience of agritourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Resilience of Smallholder and Family Farms)
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