Center for Agroecology

This unit provides students with an overview of trends and issues that affect small farm economic viability in the food system.

The first lecture reviews how small farms are defined and includes an overview of the ecological, economic, and social importance of small-scale farms, as well as the demographics of the current farmer population.

Lecture 2 examines recent economic trends and government policies impacting this sector. It concludes with a discussion of movements and strategies to support small farms, and sets the stage for subsequent units with an overview of marketing and income diversification strategies.