Three-Fold Embedding: Farm Development in Relation to Its Socio-Material Context

Ron Methorst, Dirk Roep, Jos Verstegen and Johannes S. C. Wiskerke
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Ron Methorst: Department of Applied Research, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, De Drieslag 4, 8251 JZ Dronten, The Netherlands
Dirk Roep: Rural Sociology, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Jos Verstegen: Wageningen Economic Research, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Johannes S. C. Wiskerke: Rural Sociology, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Understanding heterogeneity in farm development strategies is important in order to design effective policies and support programs to increase the sustainability of agriculture in relation to its socio-material context. Using a unique case study of 102 dairy farmers in The Netherlands, all operating in a highly similar socio-material context, this paper studies the differences in the relation of farms with the socio-material context. To this end, the concept of three-fold embedding is developed and tested using the ideal-typical characteristics of three patterns of farm development that were identified in the case study: (1) maximising total milk production; (2) optimising milk production using mainly on-farm resources; and (3) diversified on-farm production. Three-fold embedding was conceptualised in relation to the following dimensions: (1) value chain relations; (2) socio-cultural relations; and (3) natural resource relations, while using a scale ranging from a Close to a Stretched set of relations. The concept of three-fold embedding proves to be useful to identify in a non-normative and non-binary manner meaningful differences between patterns of farm development. These differences relate to differences in opportunity identification and strategic decision-making. The concept supports a relational perspective in studying farm strategy development using a sociology of entrepreneurship approach.

Keywords: farm development; dairy farm; embeddedness; strategy; perception; heterogeneity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:10:p:1677-:d:112638

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