Harvesting the benefits : how agripreneurial leadership drives innovation for sustainable rural development in Europe : a case study

Abstract EN

This paper assesses the importance of agricultural entrepreneurship in selected European countries employing indicators reported by the ESOF project (a project for developing farmers' agripreneurial skills funded by the European commission under the sixth framework program for European research).

technology development).

examine innovative initiatives to strengthen agricultural entrepreneurship.

the selected European countries are Finland ; Netherlands, Switzerland, England ; Italy ; Poland.

the ESOF project examines the economic, social, and cultural factors that hinder or encourage the development of farmers' agripreneurial skills.

this study aimed to determine perceptions of agricultural entrepreneurial leadership through policy adjustments to the ongoing changes in the farm environment, which increasingly lead to farms being viewed as businesses like other farms in the marketplace.

this means that agricultural entrepreneurs should engage in proactive and dynamic business activities that add value to agricultural products and diversify their businesses.

from this perspective, innovation is highlighted as an essential criterion for agricultural entrepreneurship.