Agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in rural mountain communities

Working and living in the mountain areas, including alpine summer farms, can be a challenge, taking into account the natural constraints: steep slopes limit the development of highly productive agriculture compared to the lowlands and make it difficult to link rural communities in mountain areas with adjacent urban centers (e.g. roads). Despite these difficulties, farming and communities in mountain areas remain dynamic and face fast transformations. Agriculture and livestock farming are still significant economic activities that provide jobs. Moreover, alpine summer farming has not only important economic but also ecological (e.g. biodiversity) or cultural functions. However, low wages, high workloads or seasonality are some of the reasons for people to leave the jobs and/or the region as such, especially younger people. The development of tourism, alternative energy production, and other emerging economic sectors in mountain areas can increase the area’s attractiveness by creating new opportunities and jobs for people living in rural communities. We invite proposals addressing (but not limited to) the following topics:

1. Integrating agricultural and non-agricultural activities: opportunities and challenges
2. Challenges and solutions for seasonal workers on alpine summer farms
3. Impact of tourism development, renewable energy, and other emerging sectors on mountain communities.
4. Attracting and retaining people to work on mountain farms
5. Resources to promote the diversification of agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in rural communities (logistics, labor, infrastructure, energy, knowledge, etc.)

Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged.