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Category: CRIFS

CRIFS Technical Brief: Who is a small-scale producer? A proposed operational definition

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EPAR TECHNICAL BRIEF #396B

Fri, 08/15/2025

AUTHORS: Didier Yelognisse Alia, Becca Toole, Federico Trindade and C. Leigh Anderson

ABSTRACT: Agricultural producers in food systems face differential climate risks given heterogeneity in land size, farming systems, labor endowments, proximity to markets, and other socio-economic characteristics. While there is broad agreement that small-scale producers (SSPs) are the most vulnerable segment of food systems, there remains a lack of consensus on a definition of SSPs, complicating tracking and targeting SSPs to strengthen their role in inclusive food system transformation. This technical brief reviews the literature to synthesize the key indicators commonly used to define SSPs and builds on an analysis of nationally representative agricultural survey data to formulate an operational definition to guide the research of the UW Center for Risk and Inclusion in Food Systems (CRIFS).

TYPE OF RESEARCH: Literature Review

RESEARCH TOPIC CATEGORY: Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Livelihoods

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS: Sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia

CRIFS-Technical-Briefs-Who is a small-scale producer_396bDownload

CRIFS Technical Brief: A Food Systems Framework

Posted on

EPAR TECHNICAL BRIEF #396A

Fri, 01/24/2025

AUTHORS: C. Leigh Anderson, Alex Huff, Telli Koroma, Lucero Marquez, and Rebecca Toole

ABSTRACT: Existing frameworks fail to explicitly identify the role of small-scale producers (SSPs) in food systems. We adapted existing food system frameworks to develop a supply chain-focused, conceptual framework of food systems that accounted for SSPs activities, outcomes, and linkages to other system actors. Following the UN High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) in the Nutrition and Food Systems Report (2017), we organize our framework around three elements: drivers, components, and outcomes. The CRIFS food system framework can be used to generate hypotheses regarding risk, SSP decision-making, markets and policy systems, and available technology while understanding the numerous pre-conditions and enabling environments that affect the food system, including gender. 

TYPE OF RESEARCH: Literature Review

RESEARCH TOPIC CATEGORY: Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Livelihoods; Environment & Climate Change

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS: Sub-Saharan Africa; South Asia

Downloadable Documents

Research Brief

CRIFS Technical Briefs – Food Systems_396aDownload