What potentials and pitfalls emerge through digital formats in participation processes in rural regional development? The paper discusses, focusing on six regional case studies, how digital formats are used in civic participation in regional development processes in German rural areas. Results show (1) that digital participation formats vary in terms of level of complexity, serve different objectives, are in their success highly dependent on other context factors (e.g. participation culture, socio-economic factors and digital competency) and do not automatically enable more participation by hardly represented groups. In terms of spatial relations, (2) there is a lack of specifically rural examples as urban areas are overrepresented in contexts of digitalisation. Consequently, opportunities for action remain limited by spatial structures, and the engagement of individuals remains pivotal. Regarding the impact on practices of communication and interaction, (3) the main objective of digital formats is to strengthen citizens' identification with the region, and digital formats turn out to qualify to varying degrees for implementing participation. Municipal and regional administrations, in particular, are key drivers for digital transitions in rural areas. Regarding chances of participation, we conclude that digital formats can create easier access, especially when linked with everyday practices. Hence, they contribute to a culture of participation. Yet, reaching target groups underrepresented in participatory processes remains a challenge.

There has been much enthusiasm around the use of digitally networked information and communications technologies to foster political participation. Given their potential to engage citizens in rural development via online tools and processes, there are particularly high expectations that these technologies will mitigate some disadvantages of nonurban places. Yet, even if these hopes are reasonable, there is little research on the enduring establishment of digital political participation for rural development. In response, our study centers on six exemplary regional case studies in Germany concerning the obstacles to and catalysts of digital political participation. The public administrators, members of associations, businesses, and nonprofits, and citizens we interviewed pointed to the importance of administrative infrastructures, tailored offers, and resourceful citizens. What these factors could, however, not achieve was a culture of participation that may inspire attitudes and lived practices. This has implications for understanding and facilitating digital political participation for rural development. By locating the incentives and barriers to civic engagement within a culture of participation, our work underscores the need for holistic, long-term endeavors to develop and encourage politically involved citizenship.

Abstract The “smart village” flourishes – at least in policy papers that envision the revitalization of rural areas through the civic deployment of networked media and telecommunications. Yet, while such aspirations are widespread, little is known about the views of those tasked with supervising and supporting digitally driven public participation for rural progress. To address the lack of insight into what these intermediary administrators conceive as catalysts and challenges for the realization of smart village conceptions, we surveyed representatives of regions in Germany who oversee rural development schemes, most notably within the European LEADER framework. For these key actors, digital participation does not mainly hinge on broadband access and IT availability. Instead, they emphasize the importance of human and administrative resources as well as multi-actor collaboration, which we discuss in terms of digital readiness, digital willingness, and digital activity. Building the smart village, we conclude, seems not so much a matter of technological infrastructure, but rather of sociotechnical infrastructuring.

The smart village is digitally networked and participatory. Its “smartness”, in other words, should be based on interaction between technological infrastructures and civic engagement.While this vision has inspired European policymaking and public discourse in recent years, understanding of the interaction between digitalization and civic participation in rural areas remains limited. In order to fill this gap, this paperoffers a systematic review of journal contributions situated at the intersection of digitalization, participatory efforts and rural development. Overall, our study shows that digital rural development and its interplay with participation processes is still a niche concern in scientific journals. We find that articles focus primarily on projects seeking to increase broadband capacity. Second, they focus on the spatial characteristics of rural areas, where social relations and intermediaries play an important role. Third, they emphasize the integration of topdownmeasures with bottom-up initiatives. There is no single, dominant theoretical approach conceptualizing the intertwining of digitalization and civic participation processes in rural areas. It is evident that local social networks are strengthenedand maintained through both analogue and digital formats. Furthermore, the literature provides evidence that sustainable forms of digital engagement are based on civil society initiatives that are supported and accompanied by administrative measures.

An increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the German organic agri-food sector involves citizens through different community financing models. While such models provide alternative funding sources as well as marketing opportunities to SMEs, they allow private investors to combine their financial and ethical concerns by directly supporting the development of a more sustainable food system. Due to the low level of financial intermediation, community financing is characterized by close relations between investors and investees. Against this background, we apply the proximity concept from economic geography to explore spatial and relational aspects of community financing in the German organic agri-food sector. Based on a qualitative multiple case study approach, we find that the relevance of proximity is twofold. While different forms of proximity between SMEs and their potential investors are key success factors, proximity is also considered as one desired outcome of community financing. Furthermore, our results reveal that the extent to which SMEs rely on particular proximity dimensions distinguishes two different approaches to community financing.

The rise of socially responsible and impact investing funds provides evidence for an increased interest private investors have in combining their financial and ethical concerns. At the same time, citizens increasingly engage in food networks and take on a vital role in the governance of agri-food systems. These developments might benefit farms and firms which are committed to sustainable food and seek funding. Through different community financing models, they can involve citizens who aim at supporting the development of a more sustainable food system. While still a niche market, an increasing number of firms in the German organic food sector uses community financing to substitute or complement traditional bank credit financing. There is a wide range of different models which can be classified as follows: 1. Pure financing instruments, e.g. crowdfunding, profit participation rights, direct loans. 2. Financing models which base on a particular legal form, e.g. cooperative, corporation. 3. Financing in cooperation with an intermediary organization which pools citizens’ capital, e.g. citizen shareholder corporation, land purchase cooperative. 4. Others (mostly related to primary production), e.g. community supported agriculture (CSA), leasing and sponsorship. Community financing can increase financial independence from credit intuitions and provides an opportunity to receive funding which otherwise might be difficult to obtain. Given the high capital intensity in agriculture and rising purchase prices of agricultural land, access to traditional bank credit financing is a particular challenge for new or less productive farms. Access to finance can also be a key obstacle for smaller companies involved in collaborative short food chains and green start-ups that offer innovative products or services and/or lack business education. Apart from financial considerations, particular community financing models can also serve as marketing tool in order to build or intensify relationships to customers. As the example of the German energy transition shows, financial citizen participation can be crucial for financing the transformation of the energy sector. However, little is known 5 about community financing models in the agri-food sector. Accordingly, this paper presents empirical evidence on community financing in the German organic food sector and discusses the role it can play in food system transformation.

Rural land is a major source of environmental and social services. However, land-use decision makers (including farmers) and society might be unaware or underappreciate, and often under-value these services. Private and local action ensures the provision of these services, and there is evidence of shifting societal norms in relation to expected environmental or social behaviour. Societal demand for the provision of environmental and social services can be represented as a cascading process from awareness, appreciation and value. Private sector actions and market mechanisms emerge to valorise these services, helping to connect people and businesses with targeted policies. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) can help to foster more effective and efficient supply of environmental and social services through market mechanisms.

There is wide consensus that the agricultural and forestry sectors play an important role in the provision of public benefits. Major changes are envisaged by some in the future developments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regarding the provision of these benefits. However, while policy can be a powerful driver for change, it is often not sufficient to trigger action by itself; new approaches are required to increase the engagement and commitment of actors in this field. The PEGASUS project aimed to understand new ways of thinking about the way farmland and forests are managed to stimulate long-lasting improvement in the provision of public benefits in the EU. Since the private sector is already actively involved in securing the provision of public benefits e.g. through premium price mechanisms, this article seeks to outline private sector actions for the more effective provision of public benefits arising from EU farmland and forests. The article suggests a number of approaches to be considered when developing policy that seeks to encourage the involvement of the private sector.

SummaryThere is wide consensus that the agricultural and forestry sectors play an important role in the provision of public benefits. Major changes are envisaged by some in the future developments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regarding the provision of these benefits. However, while policy can be a powerful driver for change, it is often not sufficient to trigger action by itself; new approaches are required to increase the engagement and commitment of actors in this field. The PEGASUS project aimed to understand new ways of thinking about the way farmland and forests are managed to stimulate long‐lasting improvement in the provision of public benefits in the EU. Since the private sector is already actively involved in securing the provision of public benefits e.g. through premium price mechanisms, this article seeks to outline private sector actions for the more effective provision of public benefits arising from EU farmland and forests. The article suggests a number of approaches to be considered when developing policy that seeks to encourage the involvement of the private sector.

EuroChoicesVolume 17, Issue 1 p. 26-27 Parlons Graphiques Impact pathways for agricultural innovations Voies d'impact pour les innovations agricoles Wirkungswege für landwirtschaftliche Innovationen Simone Sterly, Simone Sterly sterly@ifls.de Institute for Rural Development Research, Frankfurt am Main, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorSusan Fowler, Susan Fowler suf@aber.ac.uk Aberystwyth Business School, United KingdomSearch for more papers by this author Simone Sterly, Simone Sterly sterly@ifls.de Institute for Rural Development Research, Frankfurt am Main, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorSusan Fowler, Susan Fowler suf@aber.ac.uk Aberystwyth Business School, United KingdomSearch for more papers by this author First published: 11 April 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/1746-692X.12183Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume17, Issue1April 2018Pages 26-27 RelatedInformation

Farms and firms along the value chain for organic food in Germany increasingly complement or substitute traditional credit financing with financing models which base upon citizen participation. However, research on the role of consumers or citizens as investors is quite limited. This contribution presents first insights from a research project on community financing models in the German organic food sector.

This Policy Brief identifies factors that facilitate or limit the effectiveness and per- formance of scientific research on agriculture (SRA) in terms of innovation and desired changes. Findings and the ensuing recommendations are based on an investigation of research-based innovations in six regional case studies with a Participatory Impact Pathway assessment approach. Institutional and policy frameworks have played important roles as either enabling or hindering factors. They were particularly important in raising funding for research as well as enabling product registration and marketing innovations. Policy recommendations focus on strengthening agricultural innovation support, engaging with the private sector, coordination of research and innovation policy, and better access to research data.

The findings and recommendations presented in this Research Brief are based on six regional case studies, which were performed to develop and test a methodological framework for assessing the impacts of Scientific Research on Agriculture (SRA). The aim was to investigate the complex innovation processes occurring along related impact pathways. The case studies were selected in five countries for their agro-ecological and socio-economic diversity. The methodology developed was based on the Participatory Impact Pathway Analysis(PIPA) and complemented by some additional methods, mainly to adapt the PIPA approach to the requirements of an ex-post impact assessment (using Outcome Harvesting). We also put more emphasis on the role of the actor network, considering its great importance in the agricultural sector. All cases showed that the intended impacts as defined at the beginning of the research programme are at least partially met at the time of the assessment, and that both unintended and unexpected effects occurred. Enabling and disabling factors were identified regarding the development of trust, networks and role of economic and institutional frameworks. We provide recommendations aimed at the research and research policy community on ex-ante, within-project, and ex-post research impact assessment, as well as on management of research calls and of funding frameworks.

This synthesis report, which provides a comparative analysis of individual case studies of science-based agricultural innovation, is a deliverable of the IMPRESA (the IMPact of RESearch on EU Agriculture) project. It compares and contrasts the impact pathways from agricultural research through the causal framework of case-specific individual research-based innovations. The synthesis is based on comprehensive and detailed case study reports prepared by research teams of six of the partner institutions working on the project.