Social farming in Hesse - Added value of social farming for agricultural production (2018 - 2020)

Social farming combines social work with agricultural production and pursues social, therapeutic and educational goals. The challenge here is to shape the "inclusion" of people with special needs in agriculture, as called for by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in such a way that their inclusion becomes a synergy and not a "hindrance" for the agricultural enterprise.

Compared to other European countries, social farming still plays a modest role in Germany as an example of "multifunctional" agriculture. People from outside agriculture are only rarely integrated into producer enterprises. So far, the sectors and actors involved (agriculture, social services, health care, employment promotion, etc.) have not cooperated sufficiently, and the need for advice has not been met.

Within the framework of the "Interdisciplinary Partnership for Added Value through Social Farming in Hesse", an operational group of producers and scientists has come together to investigate and support the potential of social farming for the development of agricultural enterprises in Hesse. Goals are

• Preparation of findings and potentials based on the "Preliminary Study on Social Agriculture in Hessen
• Development of perspectives
  • for multifunctionality of agriculture as well as
  • for society by promoting inclusion and participation

The implementation includes

1. Hesse-wide survey of farms that engage in social agriculture
2. Empirical study involving the partner farms participating in the project with regard to the optimization or new establishment of social farming and the recording of added values for agricultural production.
3. Conception of training and further education contents for a beginner's course in social farming