Generational succession in agriculture: academic debate and scientific trends

Abstract

The present study, detailed a survey of the academic debate and scientific trends regarding generational succession in agriculture. Hence this study is categorized under quantitative and qualitative bibliometric research. For this research, the Scopus database was accessed to identify scientific articles from publications between the years 2010 and 2021. The search, which included keywords like “successors” and “farm*”, resulted in 57 relevant articles. For the study, eleven thematic categories were selected, viz., Factors that influence generational succession; Gender issues in generational succession; Educational aspects in succession; Coping strategies in relation to the future of rural properties and utilization of agricultural land; Succession planning; Issues related to the dairy farming activity and the presence of successors; The role of rural youth in the succession; Socioeconomic effects on rural properties from the presence of successors; Agricultural transfers to “new” farmers; Emotional and belonging aspects in generational transfer; and Relationships and perceptions of non-successors with respect to rural property and succession. However, the factors that affect generational renewal and gender issues in generational succession are the themes that recur most often in the research. Europe is in the forefront in terms of research on succession, and reveals new research pathways and is on the frontline for the development of public policies on generational succession in agriculture. Finally, the other emerging themes were observed to be those which dealt with the relationship that exists between the emotional aspects and succession, as well as agricultural transfers to “new” farmers.