Organic social agriculture: A tool for rural development

The upcoming of an agricultural model based on multifunctionality and closer complementary relationships between ruraland urban areas is fully represented by the very social agriculture, which uses agricultural resources to carry out socialactivities, such as work introduction, rehabilitation, etc... This introduces opportunities for a new rural model, which moreand more combines social activities with organic ones sharing the same sustainable economic, environmental and social targets, affinities and motivations. The S.A. phenomenon has also interested Sicily, where social agriculture has acquiredspecial connotations since farms that have decided to commit themselves in social activities had already chosen to adopt the organic production method. This study includes the results on an agrarian-economic survey of some Sicilian organic agrosocialstructures where the synergic action between organic farming and social activities has amplified the advantages andreciprocal benefits in order to obtain “social and environmental sustainability”. The research was completed with a SWOT analysis, which allowed highlighting the strong and weak points, opportunities and threats of this phenomenon, in order to also provide useful indications for intervention policies by public and private subjects.