Integrating Farmer-driven, Value-added Enterprises Into Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Integrating Farmer-driven, Value-added Enterprises Into Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Summary

Objectives
1.) Lay a foundation of information and support that will help accelerate farmer-driven, value-added enterprise development for sustainably produced farm products in the Southern region.
2.) Gather base-line information on the systems and concepts that are keys to the successful development and marketing of farmer-driven, value-added agricultural products. Disseminate this information to farmers, agricultural information providers, researchers and educators in the region.
3.) Establish an information bank of programs, services, facilities, and other business and entrepreneurial resources supportive of farmer-driven, value-added enterprises. Make the information accessible to farmers, agricultural information providers, researchers and educators in the region.
4.) Develop and test a model incubator service designed to provide information and training to sustainable farmers and farm-based entrepreneurs about business and marketing in a one-stop setting when and where they need it. Provide information about this model to farmers, agricultural information providers, researchers and educators in the region.

After identifying and compiling demographic information on nearly 60 farm-based enterprises in the Southern region that are adding value to sustainable agricultural products, we completed in-depth phone interviews with a representative sample of farm owners.

Using information from this survey, we completed a report that updates the 1996 booklet, “Making It On the Farm: Increasing Sustainability Through Value-added Processing and Marketing.” The report contains sections on: a) “Sustainable profits” that stresses the economics of adding value to raw products and creating a unique market, b) “Translating uniqueness into a sustainable competitive advantage” that discusses how to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, c) examples of farmers’ experiences with adding value, d) keys to success in both the short run and long run with many examples in farmer’s own words, and e) a list of resources. This report will be available soon from ATTRA both in print and electronically.

We have also begun networking with organizations and institutions that have resources pertaining to value-adding, business entrepreneurship, and marketing for small businesses.

During the remainder of this project we expect to: 1) publish a report about the enterprise survey findings, 2) complete an inventory of resources and produce a resource list, 3) develop a model incubator service, 4) identify five clients to apply and test the incubator service, 5) evaluate and make recommendations for continuing service, as well as missing services needed, 5) disseminate reports and recommendations, and 6) identify funding for further testing and continuing service, if needed.

We expect this project to increase the expertise about farmer-driven, value-added enterprise development in our region, and increase the success of such enterprises. As more enterprises are created, economic activity on family farms will increase and the quality of life will be enhanced for farm residents. Perhaps as importantly, this project will begin laying the foundation for programs and research that substantially enhance one of the tenets of sustainable agriculture — economic viability. By giving farmers and rural community leaders the business tools and resources for adding value to agricultural products, innovative entrepreneurial activities can be more easily incorporated into whole sustainable farming systems.

Collaborators: