Economic dynamics of the Italian agricultural land structure

Abstract

This paper investigates the structural transformation of Italian agriculture between 2010 and 2020 by analyzing regional data from the 6th and 7th General Agricultural Censuses. Through a comparative econometric approach based on cross-sectional regressions, the study explores how demographic, technological, and organizational factors influence farm consolidation, measured by the average Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) per farm. To address multicollinearity and model instability, a stepwise regression method is applied for both years, allowing for a clearer identification of robust predictors. Results reveal that agritourism and photovoltaic adoption consistently support larger farm sizes across the decade, while the relevance of other variables such as cooperative structures and generational dynamics, emerges more strongly in 2020. Conversely, the effect of organic farming, significant and negative in 2010, fades in the more recent wave. The findings underscore the increasing role of innovation and organizational form in shaping agricultural structure, while also highlighting the persistence of territorial disparities and institutional barriers, particularly for younger and female farm managers. The study contributes to the literature on structural change in fragmented agricultural systems and offers policy-relevant insights to support more inclusive and territorially differentiated CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) reforms.