An agroecological inquiry into the sustainability of a small-scale goat farm in a mountain village in northern Italy

Sammanfattning

This dissertation addresses the sustainability profile of Capra Punk, a goat farm situated in a mountain village in Trentino, in northern Italy. Through a blend of qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods, using participatory observation and questionnaires, the study evaluates Capra Punk’s sustainability from an agroecological point of view. It reveals that Capra Punk is facing considerable sustainability challenges despite having come far in its agroecological transition. Financial and temporal constraints, along with an asymmetrical subsidy landscape, present obstacles for the farmer, Ernesto, in maintaining and developing the business. Although Capra Punk aligns with the objectives of the Italian CAP strategy and the Trento Five Priority Goals (SproSS), there is a lack of appropriate support for small-scale farmers like Ernesto. Consequently, this case study highlights the broader systemic challenges within agricultural support systems and the need for more effective alignment between policy objectives and their practical implementation.