Proceedings ofSpecial International Symposium (Online)– Western EuropeTheme: Rural Areas in Transition

May 28, 2021

Edited byCommittee of International Affairs
Association of Rural Planning, Japan

The Association of Rural Planning (ARP)
President

Committee of international affairs

Head of Committee, Board member

Board member
Board member

Planner of this symposium

Tomohiro ICHINOSE, Keio University
Kako INOUE*, University of Miyazaki
Izuru SAIZEN, Kyoto University

Mari TAKEDA*, The University of Tokyo
Miki NAKANO*, Meiji University

Satoshi ASANO, Kyoto University

Minori TOKITO, Kyoto University(*) Organizer of this symposium.

Association of Rural Planning, JapanSpecial International Symposium (Online) – Western Europe –Rural Areas in Transition

Illustrated by Satoshi AsanoMay 28, 2021

Concept and Agenda
Symposium Theme: Rural Areas in Transition
1. Concept
In recent years, the world, including rural areas, has been in a transitional period． COVID-19 is said tohave accelerated or directed the change. What is happening in rural areas of Western Europe now? TheSymposium invites three key speakers from countries that have faced serious challenges and struggled tosolve them ahead of time, in order to examine the changing paradigm and look at a new world beyond thechange.
2. Date and Agenda(1) Date: May 28, 2021 (Fri)(2) Time table
GMT

CET (Italy &JST

(UK)Netherland)(Japan)

9:30

10:30

17:30

(Time) contents(15 min) Opening (ARP president’s opening speech, and introductionof concepts and speakers)

9:45

10:45

17:45

(30 min) Prof. Francesco Di Iacovo, University of Pisa, Italy

10:15

11:15

18:15

(30 min) Prof. Bettina Bock, University of Wageningen & Groningen
University, Netherland

10:45

11:45

18:45

(30 min) Prof. Jeremy Phillipson, Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle
University, UK

11:15

12:15

19:15

15 min. break

11:30

12:30

19:30

(60 min) Discussion & Q/A session
Coordinator: Prof. Mikitaro Shobayashi, Gakushuin Women's

Panelists: All speakers

College, Japan
12:30

13:30

20:30

Closing1

Speakers and Coordinator
Speakers■Prof. Francesco Di Iacovo, University of Pisa, Italy
Francesco Di Iacovo is Professor of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at the University ofPisa, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Italy where he is also Director. His research interests are on themultifunctional agriculture and social farming, social innovation and governance, sustainable local
development and nature based solutions. He has been involved in action researches with plural actors inrural-urban contexts, facilitating participatory processes in rural development, supporting rural policy
development and transitions in multifunctional agriculture and social farming, developing social innovation
paths. Scientific Coordinator and member for several National, EU, and international research projects on
Social Farming, such as SoFar, COST Action Project on Green Care, on Ecosystem services (Contract 4.0)
an on Smart cities (Inhabit).
■Prof. Bettina B. Bock, Wageningen University, University of Groningen, NL
Bettina B. Bock is Professor of Inclusive Rural Development Wageningen University and professor for
population decline and quality of rural life, Groningen University, NL. She is involved in research on thedifferentiation of the countryside, reflected in counterurbanisation and gentrification as well as population
decline and marginalization. She is also interested in the (cultural) urbanisation of rural areas and thechanging values around agricultural production as particularly reflected in discussions on animal husbandry
and animal welfare.
■Prof. Jeremy Phillipson, Newcastle University, CRE (Centre for Rural Economy),UKJeremy Phillipson is Professor of Rural Development at the Centre for Rural Economy (CRE) at Newcastle
University, UK, and Director of the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise. He has researchinterests on the development needs of rural economies and fishing communities, processes of expertise
exchange within rural development, and on the integration of social and natural sciences in resourcemanagement.

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Coordinator■Prof. Mikitaro Shobayashi, Gakushuin Women's College, Japan
Mikitaro Shobayashi is Professor at Gakushuin Women’s Collage, Japan.

With his 25-year working

experiences in working for a wide range of public organizations including Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries of Japan, the World Bank, and OECD before he joined Gakushuin Women’s College in 2007,
he is interested in contributing to policy making on efficient allocation of natural and agricultural resources
as well as rural development. His professional interests range from multifunctionality of agriculture and its
policy and trade implications, agri-environmental policies, agricultural water resources policies, global
warming and agriculture, agriculture in emission trading, rural development policy, and agricultural policy
system. He was the main author of OECD’s reports on multifunctionality of agriculture and its policy
implications. After quitting from MAFF in 2007, he has been a member of several governmental committees,
including the Planning Committee for Rebuilding the Area Affected by the Earthquake and Tsunami on
March 11, 2011, which was established by the Prime Minister.

3ProgramMay 28, 2021 (Fri)
Venue: Online (Zoom webinar)

1.

Opening (15 minutes)
Opening speech
Dr. Tomohiro ICHINOSE, Professor, Keio University, President of Association of Rural Planning
Introduction of symposium concept and speakers
Moderator: Dr. Kako INOUE, Associate Professor, University of Miyazaki, Head of Committee ofInternational Affairs, Association of Rural Planning2.

Keynote presentations (30 minutes each)“Redesigning the farming system supporting local prosperity, the Italian experience”
Prof. Francesco Di Iacovo, University of Pisa, Italy“Rural vitality and wellbeing – The Dutch case and the EU Long Term Vision for Rural Areas”
Prof. Bettina B. Bock, Wageningen University and University of Groningen, Netherland“Enabling an Enterprising Countryside”
Prof. Jeremy Phillipson, Newcastle University, CRE (Centre for Rural Economy), UK

Break (15 minutes)
3.

Discussion and Q&A session (60 minutes)
Coordinator:
Prof. Mikitaro Shobayashi, Gakushuin Women's College, JapanPanelists (all speakers):
Prof. Francesco Di Iacovo, University of Pisa, Italy
Prof. Bettina B. Bock, Wageningen University and University of Groningen, Netherland
Prof. Jeremy Phillipson, Newcastle University, CRE (Centre for Rural Economy), UK
Closing4

Abstract5

■Prof. Francesco Di Iacovo, University of Pisa, Italy

Title: Redesigning the farming system supporting local prosperity, the Italian experience

Abstract

We are experiencing challenging time where most of the traditional routines, way of thinking, mainframes andoperational activities, are under discussion, both at global and local level. The farming system -as well as rural areasis part of this process of change due to different constraints. The concept of farming system itself is under reelaboration. Farming system links physical, human and cultural resources, main socio-economic trends, householdorganization into organizational solutions and management at farm level. From subsistence farm to commercial ones,
today the farming system is incorporating new tensions named resiliency to stresses, social and environmental
sustainability for both local and global society. On the one side, farming system it’s still marketed oriented although
the market is not always able to recognize all existing needs, challenges and scarcities, not only with regards to foodproduction, but also in relation with environmental and societal issues. On the other side the capability to reorganize
the farming system in the perspective of emerging new demands is calling for new – retro-innovative – solutions,alternative public-private-people collaboration, a reorganization of the private-public spheres, the organization of
new common perspectives and operational routines. All aspects calling for the incorporation of farm management’choices into a new cultural and organizational envelop organized at local/national level. The presentation, startingfrom the Italian perspective, aims to reflect on opportunities and threats in redesigning the future farming system inthe perspective of local prosperity.

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■Prof. Bettina B. Bock, Wageningen University, NL

Title: Rural vitality and wellbeing ‒ The Dutch case and the EU Long Term Vision for Rural Areas

Abstract

The Netherlands presents a particular case for rural development, given its small size, high population density andlevel of urbanisation. However, in this particularity, it reflects a set of problems that many rural areas in othercountries will probably face soon.

During the last decades, differentiation is a dominant trend in rural areas, reflected in the significant differences
between rural areas in terms of economy and land use, population size and composition, and migration trends.
Population decline is a significant issue for the peripheral rural areas in the Netherlands in the East, North and Southof the country. It is undermining the vitality of the rural regions as it often coincides with the closure of services. Theeffects pose a threat to our society's inclusivity with significantly lower welfare in the peripheral rural areas. In theNetherlands, we use a relatively new tool to measure and monitor broad welfare, including education, employment,
health, housing, social cohesion and wellbeing, safety and access to nature. It resonates well among citizens andpolicymakers as it also recognises the strengths of rural areas, for instance, in terms of safety and social cohesion.
The government developed a dashboard, which presents the strong and weak points of different regions and identifies
entry points for policy.

At the moment, the government evaluates its policy for the vitalisation of areas struggling with population decline.
In the past years, it was up to those regions to cope with the decline of population, ageing, and services closure.
Social innovation and the support of citizen initiatives was an important policy measure. Currently, the central
government is more ready to invest themselves, as reflected in the recently introduced region deals. The fact that thestate depends on the rural areas to produce sustainable energy and mitigate climate change effects plays an importantrole. For both, access to land is a requirement, whereas land is already so scarce and expensive. This may change thebargaining position of peripheral areas that are less urbanised and have more space. COVID 19 may also play a role
in re-evaluating rural areas as the possibility of more urban-to-rural migration is currently heavily debated.

Looking into the main messages of the recently formulated European long term vision of rural areas demonstrates
that the Netherlands does, indeed, present an interesting case – which seems extraordinary at first sight, given its
population density and level of urbanisation. Yet in many respects, rural development in the Netherlands reflects thepotential and challenges of rural areas in Europe in general.

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■Prof. Jeremy Phillipson and Prof Matthew Gorton, Newcastle University, UK(Centre for Rural Economy and National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise)

Title: Enabling an Enterprising Countryside

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and government-led measures to mitigate its impact are having widespread effects on ruraleconomies. The pandemic is affecting all aspects of rural society, both directly through its health impacts, but also
because of social distancing and other restrictions in place to limit the spread of the disease. We discuss the impactsof the pandemic on rural economies in England, and consider the extent to which COVID-19 represents a strategic
inflection point for rural business innovation and the role of rural areas within regional economic policy. Specifically,
we consider whether the pandemic will spark a reassessment of the respective roles of large cities and rural areas
within economic policy. Through the presentation we introduce the new National Innovation Centre for Rural
Enterprise and its work in understanding and fostering an enterprising countryside.

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Note