Strategies of farmers in peri-urban areas – Greater Copenhagen as an example

Peri-urban landscapes constitute a dynamic context for agricultural production and farmers. This presents both challenges and unique opportunities. Increasingly fulltime farmers are challenged by influx of other activities and other types of property owners, which implies raising property prices because of the attractiveness of properties and land in the close vicinity of cities. Being situated in the peri-urban areas, however, also poses opportunities for alternative activities to supplement the income from farming, because of proximity to urban markets. In addition, the farm structure with few large properties owned by fulltime farmers and many small properties owned by hobby farmers or non-farmers give fulltime farmers the opportunity to use large areas of land on flexible lease premises. Last but not least, the large number of hobby and part time farmers represents - potentially - alternative forms of agricultural production, using alternative strategies and networks for distribution.
In this study, we investigate production strategies developed by farmers in peri-urban areas. Data from 62 property owners in peri-urban areas of Greater Copenhagen are included based on a face-to-face survey conducted in 2014. All property owners produce and distribute agricultural products on a commercial basis, but less than 20 percent are fulltime farmers. A diversity of strategies is identified when investigating current farm structure and sources of income, their motivation for buying the property and their perception of the impact of the peri-urban location on the property. In order to understand the strategies in details the survey was supplemented by in-depth interviews with selected property owners. The results are compared to results from other European countries and discussed in relation to possible implications for planning and regulation of activities in peri-urban areas – including agricultural production and farm structures.