Research Projects

SALSA: Small farms, small food businesses and sustainable food security.

Objectives: SALSA will assess the role of small farms and small food businesses in delivering a sustainable and secure supply of affordable, nutritious and culturally adequate food. SALSA will identify the mechanisms which, at different scales, can strengthen the role of small farms in food systems and thereby support sustainable Food and Nutrition Security (FNS). By considering a gradient of 30 reference regions in Europe and in Africa, we will obtain a differentiated understanding of the role of small farms and small food businesses in very differently structured food systems and situations.
SALSA will elaborate and implement a transdisciplinary, multi-scale approach that builds on and connects relevant theoretical and analytical frameworks within a food systems approach, and that uses qualitative, consultative and quantitative methods. We will also test a new combination of data-based methods and tools (including satellite technologies) for rigorously assessing in quantitative terms the interrelationships between small farms, other small food businesses and FNS, paying particular attention to limiting and enabling factors. SALSA will use participatory methods, at regional level, and establish a more global Community of Practice and multi-stakeholder learning platform, based on FAO’s TECA online communication and learning platform.
The SALSA consortium, and the joint learning and close cooperation, have both been designed with the EU - Africa dialogue in mind. Responding to the call we will unravel the complex interrelationships between small farms, small food businesses and FNS, and unfold the role played by small farms in (a) the balance between the different dimensions of sustainability, (b) maintaining more diverse production systems, (c) supporting the urban/rural balance in terms of labour and (d) in facilitating territorial development in countries facing a strong rural population growth.

Support: EU/HORISON 2020/GA Number: 677363/SFS-18-2015/H2020-SFS-2015-2
Duration: 2016-2020 (48 months)
Project Budget: 4.958.172,50 EURO
Beneficiary: AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS,(AUA), Greece
Beneficiary Budget: 279.370,00 EURO
Partnership:
P1 UNIVERSIDADE DE EVORA UEVORA, Portugal (COORDINATOR)
P2 UNIVERSITA DI PISA, Italy
P3 NODIBINAJUMS BALTIC STUDIES CENTRE, Latvia
P4 THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE HUTTON, United Kingdom
P5 STIFTELSEN NORSK SENTER FOR BYGDEFORSKNING, Norway
P6 Uniwersytet Rolniczy im. Hugona Kollataja w Krakowie UR KRAKOW, Poland
P7 HIGHCLERE CONSULTING SRL, Romania
P8 UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA, Spain
P9 International Institute for Environment and Development, United Kingdom
P10 AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, Greece
P11 UNIVERSIDADE DE CABO VERDE, Cape Verde
P12 UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, Ghana
P13 AFRICAN CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY STUDIES, Kenya
P14 INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE DE TUNISIE, Tunisia
P15 INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN AGROFORESTRY, Kenya
P16 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FAO, Italy
P17 Coldiretti Coldiretti, Italy
Website: SALSA